A literature review and determination of specimens performed in conjunction with treatment preparations for the Flora of North America North of Mexico and the second edition of The Jepson Manual indicates that the names in use for two Arctotis species (Arctotideae: Asteraceae) occurring in California need updating. Venidium fastuosum (Jacq.) Stapf, a rare escape from cultivation, should be Arctotis fastuosa Jacq. (Pl. hort. schoenbr. 2: 20, pl. 166; 1797) and A. venusta Norl. (Bot. Not. 118: 406-7; 1965) is the correct name for a naturalized species previously determined as A. stoechadifolia P.J. Bergius.