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Common names: Spilanthes, Toothache Plant, Electric Daisy, Buzz Buttons
Botanical name: Acmella oleracea
Family: Asteraceae
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Looking for an herb that's a little different? Meet Spilanthes! This unusual plant is as much a conversation starter as it is an herb. With bright yellow-and-red button-like flowers and a distinctive tingling sensation when chewed, Spilanthes is a fascinating addition to the herb garden.
Traditionally known as the Toothache Plant, Spilanthes has a long history of traditional herbal use. Today, gardeners grow it for its unique flowers, interesting sensory experience, and its ability to attract pollinators.
🌱 Why Grow Spilanthes?
⚡ It's Definitely Different!
Spilanthes isn’t your ordinary herb. The flowers and leaves contain compounds that create a distinctive tingling, buzzing, and numbing sensation when chewed.
It's an herb that practically begs the question: "What does this plant do?"
🐝 Pollinator Friendly
Those bright button-like flowers are attractive to bees and other beneficial insects, making Spilanthes a fun addition to an herb or pollinator garden.
🌼 Ornamental Appeal
The unusual yellow flowers with their dark red centers add a unique texture and pop of color to containers, raised beds, and mixed plantings.
🌿 Traditional Herbal History
Spilanthes has been used traditionally in various cultures, particularly for oral and digestive herbal preparations. Its traditional nickname, "toothache plant," comes from its characteristic tingling and numbing sensation.
Important: Traditional use is not the same as proven medical treatment. Spilanthes should not be used to replace professional dental or medical care.
🌿 Growing & Care
☀️ Light
Prefers full sun
Can tolerate partial shade
More sun generally means stronger growth and more flowers
💧 Water
Keep soil evenly moist while plants are establishing
Once established, allow the surface of the soil to dry slightly between waterings
Avoid consistently soggy soil
🌱 Soil
Prefers rich, well-draining soil
Adding compost before planting can encourage vigorous growth
🌿 Growth Habit
Bushy, spreading annual
Typically reaches around 12–24 inches tall
Produces numerous small, button-like flowers throughout the summer
🌡️ Climate & Zones
Spilanthes is a warm-season annual and can be grown as an annual in cooler climates.
🌬️ Growing Spilanthes in Zone 5
Spilanthes loves heat, making it a great summer herb for Colorado gardens.
Tips for Success:
Wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting outdoors.
Give it a warm, sunny location.
Keep plants watered during periods of extreme heat.
Containers work especially well because they warm up quickly.
Harvest throughout the growing season to encourage fresh growth.
Spilanthes will not survive a Zone 5 winter outdoors, but it's easy to enjoy as a summer annual.
🌿 Harvesting Spilanthes
The young leaves and flowers are the parts traditionally used.
🌼 Flowers
Harvest flowers when they are fully developed but still fresh and vibrant.
🌱 Leaves
Pick young, tender leaves throughout the growing season.
A little goes a long way! The tingling sensation can be surprisingly strong, especially when using fresh flowers.
⚡ The Spilanthes Experience
If you've never tried Spilanthes before, start with a very small piece of a fresh flower.
Chewing it can produce:
A slight prickling sensation
A buzzing or tingling feeling
A mild numbing sensation
Increased saliva production
The sensation typically fades relatively quickly.
Fun garden party idea: Let friends experience a tiny piece of Spilanthes and see who can describe the sensation best!
🥗 How to Use Spilanthes
Traditionally, small amounts have been used in:
Herbal preparations
Salads
Infusions
Flavoring blends
Because of its strong sensory effect, Spilanthes is generally used in small quantities rather than as a primary culinary herb.
Young leaves can be added sparingly to salads for an unexpected tingling experience.
🌼 Spilanthes & Pollinators
Allow some flowers to remain on the plant rather than harvest everything. The unusual blooms provide a valuable food source for pollinators and beneficial insects.
And those quirky little yellow buttons make a great conversation piece in the garden!
🌸 Final Thoughts
Spilanthes is one of those plants that makes gardening more fun. It's beautiful, unusual, easy to grow, attractive to pollinators, and offers a sensory experience you won't get from most herbs.
Whether you're an adventurous gardener, an herb enthusiast, or simply looking for something new and unusual to add to your garden, Spilanthes is definitely worth trying!
Come visit The Flower Bin and discover this fascinating little herb for yourself. 🌿⚡🌼
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