African daisy
Arctotis stoechadifolia P.J. Bergius
Silver arctotis forms a spreading perennial cover about 1.2 metres wide, with flowering shoots thirty-five centimetres high. Its soft, slightly sticky foliage has a strong bittersweet smell when touched. As fruits develop, the heads bend down, rising again when ready for wind dispersal. SANBI PlantZAfrica: Arctotis stoechadifolia
Botanical name
Arctotis stoechadifolia P.J.Bergius is accepted by Kew, matching the catalog species. Kew POWO: Arctotis stoechadifolia
Recognizing the plant
On dunes and sandy flats, its spreading perennial stems build a low, silver-grey cover beneath upright flowering shoots. The narrow leaves are woolly and lightly toothed, while the older base becomes woody. Its flower heads pair pale cream to light-yellow outer rays with a dark centre; reddish-maroon colouring appears beneath the rays. SANBI PlantZAfrica: Arctotis stoechadifolia
Bloom window
Western Cape, South Africa
In its Cape setting, the South African National Biodiversity Institute records flowering from September to December, spanning spring into early summer. SANBI PlantZAfrica: Arctotis stoechadifolia
Native range
Silver arctotis, Arctotis stoechadifolia, belongs naturally to a narrow stretch of South Africa’s west coast, from the Cape Peninsula toward Langebaan. Kew POWO: Arctotis stoechadifoliaSANBI PlantZAfrica: Arctotis stoechadifolia
Ecological relationships
The flower heads open in sunshine, and SANBI reports that bees visiting during the day pollinate the plant. SANBI PlantZAfrica: Arctotis stoechadifolia
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.