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Toothache Paracress brings genuine botanical intrigue to warm-climate herb gardens. This annual plant produces charming button-like yellow blooms while delivering an unusual sensory experience: a spicy, numbing zing on the tongue courtesy of its natural analgesic compound, spilanthol. Hardy in zones 10-12, it reaches 12-18 inches tall and matures in 120-130 days, thriving in full sun across containers, garden beds, raised beds, and flower borders. The playful common names, Eyeball Plant, Peek-A-Boo, Electric Buttons, hint at the delightful surprise awaiting anyone who tastes a bloom.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-12
18in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Few herbs deliver both visual charm and a genuine sensory jolt. The bright yellow button-like flowers aren't just ornamental; they contain spilanthol, the compound responsible for that distinctive numbing sensation. Deer leave it alone, and it grows reliably from seed in warm regions, making it equally at home in a kitchen garden or a cutting garden where its whimsy adds genuine personality.
The flowers and leaves are edible, offering a distinctive spicy, numbing sensation when chewed or consumed fresh. The blooms can be added to salads for textural and flavor contrast, or used to create infusions and tinctures that leverage its natural analgesic properties. The plant's historical use as a remedy for toothache pain (hence its common name) reflects its role in folk medicine traditions.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Harvest the button-like yellow flowers and leaves once they appear; they contain the highest concentration of spilanthol when fully formed. Pick blooms at their prime, when they're vibrant yellow and firm. The plant will continue flowering throughout the season, so regular harvesting encourages ongoing production.
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