Bold and beautiful, the mesmerizing Arctotis hirsuta is one of
the most captivating species in an annual spring display. This
robust annual species grows to 450 mm in height and diameter. It
is slightly fleshy with a branched stem. The thinly hairy,
lyrate (lyre-shaped) to pinnatifid (divided feather-like) leaves
are up to 200 mm long and often auriculate (with ear-like lobes
at the base). There are various flowerheads of about 40 mm in
diameter, borne on leafy stalks. The rayflorets are orange,
yellow or cream-coloured, sometimes with purplish markings at
the base. The disc florets are often black.The involucral bracts
surrounding the flower heads are finely woolly and arranged in
three rows. The innermost bracts have a transparent tip.
Flowering is from July to October. Arctotis hirsuta is not
threatened and has a status of Least Concern (LC) (Raimondo et
al . 2009). Distribution and habitat The gousblom is found on
sandy slopes and flats, often along the coast, in the Western
Cape from Elandsbaai to the Ag