Cape daisy (Arctotheca calendula)

yellow daisies with large petals

La Arctotheca calendula It is a herbaceous plant native to South Africa, belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is a very showy plant, unfortunately it is a terrible invader.

Features

yellow flower called Arctotheca calendula

This plant that is native to South Africa, was introduced accidentally or for ornamental purposes in other regions such as Australia, the Iberian Peninsula, New Zealand and the United States, where it adapted very quickly and where it is now considered a very difficult invader to eradicate.

These is one of the reasons why in Portugal and to give an example, cultivation or decorative use is prohibited, since it has an invasive behavior and because it is considered a very dangerous species for natural ecosystems.

La Arctotheca calendula  reproduces very easily and quickly, since it not only releases large amounts of seeds that last over time, but also also produces underground jets that form new plants.

In this way it occupies the spaces in an exaggerated way, suffocating the native plants and causing a significant modification in ecosystems.

Origin of the Arctotheca calendula

This name is derived from the Greek words arktos meaning "a bear" and theke meaning "box". referring to densely woolly fruits. The marigold species name probably refers to its resemblance to the European genus Calendula.

It means 'little calendar' and comes from the Greek word kalendae, which means the first day of the month, and could refer to its long flowering period. Its common name is yellow or orange flower daisies.

Farming

This plant spreads easily through its seeds and is that each plant can produce a large number of seeds. When the plant dies in the summer, the seeds fall around it, giving life to new plants that spread quickly.

The woolly vilano that retains the seeds easily sticks to the sleeves of the pants or the legs of the animals, this way it can be expanded throughout the area.

Its leaves are dark green, arranged alternately and the flowers that give the Arctotheca calendula are visited and pollinated mainly by bees and butterflies.

Uses

The gray felt found on the underside of the leaves of many species of the daisy family, including the marigold Arctotheca, it is given many uses. When it is scraped, this felt looks like a miniature cloth.

It is used to cover the ground, since is able to grow in any garden soil, being advisable to place it in full sun for better growth. In addition, it does not require large amounts of water and supports moderate frosts.

Plague

bush with yellow flowers

The invasion can be controlled through weeding that must be carried out frequently. To be successful, the entire plant must be uprooted, including stolons as they can generate new plants.

Some chemicals such as 3% glyphosate have been used to control large pests of this marigold species. What's more, herbicides must be used to achieve total eradication. However, you should know that some species in Africa became resistant to herbicides.

From a biological point of view there are no biological agents to date that help to find calendula infection. Some diseases, insects and invertebrates can occasionally cause damage to plants, but the effects are short-term.

Finally, we can say that this is an ideal plant for ornamental use, given its great resemblance to daisies. But if you decide to have it in your garden, you should consider their invasive behaviorvo, since this can damage the other plants that you have grown.

To eliminate them from your garden you must make sure to uproot it, so that no new plants emerge. Now and if you decide to keep it, you will not have to give it a lot of maintenance since easily adapt to the groundThey require little water and are highly resistant to the sun.


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