Arctotheca calendula is a groundcover that will give you a flowering lawn for much of the year. Its beautiful bright yellow flowers will illuminate your garden, making it more vibrant and cheerful.
Our lawns use over 80% less irrigation and maintenance than a traditional lawn. Try it to believe it!
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Format
Half tray of 30 plants (3 m²)
Tray of 60 plants (6 m²)
Cell diameter: 5 cm
Family
Asteraceae
Type
Groundcover
Foliage
Green
Flower colour
Yellow
Flowering period
March, April, May, June, July, August, September
Cold hardiness
Down to -8°C
Drought tolerance
High
Salt tolerance
Yes
Tread resistance
Medium
Maximum height
25 cm
Exposure
Full sun, partial shade
DESCRIPTION OF THE LAWN ALTERNATIVE: ARCTOTHECA CALENDULA
Arctotheca calendula is native to South Africa, as can be easily guessed from the nicknames by which it is known (South African grass or Cape calendula).
It is an annual groundcover, but in warm climates it spreads so quickly that reseeding is not necessary. Its exceptionally rapid growth and high salt tolerance make it a perfect choice for any coastal garden.
Arctotheca calendula should not be confused with its very common medicinal cousin in the Asteraceae family, Calendula officinalis.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ARCTOTHECA CALENDULA
Arctotheca calendula is a hardy and very robust plant that is extremely easy to grow. Its origins have made it very drought-tolerant and fond of well-drained soils.
Its abundant flowering appears in early spring and lasts until late autumn, especially in the warmer areas of our country. The flowers resemble large daisies in a beautiful bright yellow.
Arctotheca calendula can easily be combined with other groundcovers. For example, it could create a varied colour palette when paired with the striking flowers of Lippia nodiflora and/or Verbena hybrida, particularly hardy plants that can keep up with the growth rate of Arctotheca. Remember that a varied lawn tends to be more resistant and adaptable!
PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE
As with most lawn alternatives, the best time to plant Arctotheca calendula is in early autumn. This choice allows you to make the most of the water provided by the approaching rainy season, but spring planting is equally suitable for the harmonious growth of the plants. If you plant the lawn in spring, you will need to allow for a few extra waterings during the first summer to support the plants as they establish.
By following our recommended planting density (10 plants per square metre), the Arctotheca calendula lawn will close evenly within 8–12 months.
During the establishment phase, the lawn will need to be watered infrequently but with abundant amounts of water. The frequency of watering Arctotheca calendula during this initial phase should be assessed independently, ensuring that the soil is completely dry at a depth of 8–10 cm.
Once the lawn has completed its first year, watering can be limited to once (or at most twice) a year. As for the maintenance of Arctotheca calendula, we recommend mowing 3 to 6 times a year. Remember not to underestimate the exuberance of this alternative lawn: a minimum level of control will be necessary to prevent Arctotheca from spreading excessively.
ARCTOTHECA CALENDULA SALES
Arctotheca calendula is sold in trays of 60 cells. For optimal coverage, we recommend a density of 10 plants per square metre, so each tray is designed to cover 6 m².
You can achieve the area you need by combining 6 m² trays and half trays of 3 m² (30 plants). Remember that for areas over 100 m², we provide custom quotes tailored to your needs!
All you need is a tape measure and five minutes. Here’s how to figure out how many square meters (m²) you need for your lawn.
1. Measure the area to cover
Rectangle or square: length × width. Example: 5 m × 4 m = 20 m².
Triangle: base × height ÷ 2. Example: 6 m × 3 m ÷ 2 = 9 m².
Round flowerbed: radius × radius × 3.14. Example: 2 m radius → 2 × 2 × 3.14 = 12.5 m².
2. Irregularly shaped garden?
Divide it into rectangles and triangles, calculate each section, and add the results together. Then subtract areas that do not need to be planted: paths, patios, pools, and shrub beds.
3. Tools to help you
Tape measure or measuring wheel: the most accurate method, preferably with two people.
Google Maps on a computer: right-click on the garden → "Measure distance", then click along the edge until you close the shape. Google will show you the area in m².
Phone measurement app: iPhones have "Measure", and on Android you can find measurement apps that use the camera. Great for a quick estimate.
House floor plan: it often already includes the garden measurements.
By pacing it out: an adult step measures about 0.75 m. Useful for an initial calculation, but check it with a tape measure afterward.
4. Round up
Add an extra 5–10% for edges, curves, and small measurement errors. Then choose the next larger size or combine multiple sizes.
Example: 7 × 3 m garden = 21 m², minus a 1 × 3 m path = 18 m². With an extra 10%, you get about 20 m²: choose 24 m² or combine 12 + 6 + 3 m².
Still have questions?
Send us the measurements or a photo of the garden from the Contact page, or message us on WhatsApp: we’ll help you choose the right quantity.
Rapid adoption
In bloom from April to October
Does not attract bees
Walkable and moderately passable by vehicles
Arctotheca calendula is a groundcover that will give you a flowering lawn for much of the year. Its beautiful bright yellow flowers will illuminate your garden, making it more vibrant and cheerful.
Our lawns use over 80% less irrigation and maintenance than a traditional lawn. Try it to believe it!
Calendula Arctotheca is a hardy and very robust plant that is extremely easy to grow. Its origins have made it highly drought-tolerant and fond of well-drained soils.
Its profuse flowering appears in early spring and lasts until late autumn, especially in the warmer areas of our country. The flowers resemble large daisies in a beautiful bright yellow.
Calendula Arctotheca can easily be paired with other ground covers. For example, it could create a varied color palette if paired with the showy blooms of Lippia nodiflora and/or Verbena hybrida, particularly hardy plants that will keep pace with the growth of the Arctotheca. Don't forget that a diverse lawn tends to be more resistant and adaptable!
As with most lawn alternatives, the best time to plant Arctotheca calendula is in early autumn. This timing allows you to make the most of the water provided by the approaching rainy season, although planting in spring is also an excellent option for encouraging even growth. If you plant the lawn in spring, you will simply need to water it a little more during the first summer to support the young plants as they establish.
If you follow our recommended planting density of 10 plants per square metre, the Arctotheca calendula lawn will form an even cover within 8–12 months.
While establishing, the lawn will need to be watered infrequently but thoroughly. You should assess the watering needs of Arctotheca calendula during this initial stage, ensuring that the soil is completely dry at a depth of 8–10 cm.
After the lawn’s first year, watering may be limited to once (or at most twice) a year. As for maintaining Arctotheca calendula, we recommend mowing three to six times a year. Remember not to underestimate how vigorously this alternative lawn grows: it will need to be kept under control to prevent the Arctotheca from spreading too far.
Arctotheca calendula is sold in 60-cell trays. For optimal coverage, we recommend a density of 10 plants per square meter, so each tray is designed to cover 6 m².
You can cover the area you need by combining 6 m² trays and half trays of 3 m² (30 plants). Remember that for areas over 100 m², we provide custom quotes tailored to your needs!
Shipping
Italy: delivery within 48/72 hours of shipping.
International: delivery within a maximum of 5 days.
We ship from Monday to Wednesday: so that the plants only travel on weekdays and do not sit in the courier's warehouses over the weekend. Orders received from Thursday to Sunday will be shipped the following Monday.
Packaging designed for live plants, to ensure they arrive in good condition.
When you receive the delivery or hold-for-collection notice, please collect the package as soon as possible: plants suffer if they remain closed in the box for too long.
Returns and damaged plants
Right of withdrawal within 14 days of receipt, as provided for by the Consumer Code. The product must be returned intact and in its original packaging; return shipping costs are borne by the customer.
Plant arrived damaged? Please let us know within 7 days of receipt, with a few photos of the plant and the packaging: we will assess a replacement or refund together.
Treat yourself to a wildflower lawn that requires very little water and maintenance!
A traditional lawn is a fragile monoculture: it drinks thousands of liters of water every summer, needs mowing every week, and turns yellow as soon as you neglect it. An alternative lawn turns this logic on its head: instead of grasses, we use Mediterranean groundcovers selected in our nursery—low-growing, dense, and hardy plants born for hot, dry climates.
The result is a green, walkable carpet that blooms for months, withstands drought, salt spray, and frost, and reduces watering and maintenance by 80%. It is not an aesthetic compromise: it is a more beautiful, more vibrant lawn that is kinder to the environment.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG ROOT SYSTEM
Its strength? Its roots
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The 4 steps for planting
FIRST STEP
Prepare the soil
Prepare the soil by removing weeds and loosening the top 25–30 cm
STEP 2
Divide the seedlings
Remove the tray and separate the seedlings with a knife or scissors
STEP 3
Settle them in
Space 10 seedlings per m². Plant them well, making sure to cover the entire growing medium.
STEP 4
Irrigation
Water thoroughly until the soil is saturated.
The land
Divide the seedlings
Make them your home
Irrigation
Alternative Lawn vs. Traditional Lawn
Why our alternative lawns are so special
Alternative Lawns
Traditional lawn
Irrigation
1-2 times a year
3-5 times a week
Haircuts
2-6 times a year
About 1 every two weeks.
Flowering
3-4 months
None
Walkability
High
High
Fun facts and much more about our alternative lawns
Piantine arrivate addirittura in anticipo ed in ottimo stato. Le abbiamo messe a dimora tutte e 1200 in una giornata in 3 utilizzando una trivella/trapano. Ora speriamo che attecchiscano. Purtroppo da due giorni sta piovendo ininterrottamente.
