Toothache Plant Bullseye – 50 Seeds

The Bullseye Toothache Plant (Acmella oleracea ‘Bull’s Eye’) has reddish-green foliage and tight, compact yellow flowers with a bright bulls eye on the tip of each flower. These little flowers look great in a border, especially when planted en masse.

Common names include eyeball plant, jambu, toothache plant, paracress, Sichuan buttons, buzz buttons, tingflowers and electric daisy. Formerly Spilanthes acmella, it is now called Acmella oleracea. This Brazilian species is widely used as a culinary and medicinal herb.

Medicinal Benefits and other Benefits

• It is commonly used to treat toothaches along with other mouth, throat, and gum conditions.
• This medicinal herb also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, and it enhances the immune system.
• The leaves are often eaten raw and taste good in salads.
• Extracts from the Toothache Plant have proven effective against mosquitoes. Planting on borders for flying pest control has been a traditional use of the flower.

Growing Bullseye Toothache Plant

Indoor Sowing: Late Winter and Early Spring.
Direct Sowing: Spring and Early Summer.

• You can direct sow the seeds in Spring and Early Summer, by scattering the seeds on top of moist soil and very gently press the seeds into the surface of the soil with your fingertips.
• Do not cover the seeds with soil, as the seeds need light to germinate.
• You can also start the seeds indoors 4 – 6 weeks before your last Spring frost date.
• To sow indoors, fill a planting flat almost full with a sterile, low-fertility seed-starting, or germinating, mixture.
• Water or mist the medium in the container, thoroughly moistening it.
• Sprinkle the seeds evenly over the surface of the medium.
• Only add a very light dusting of growing medium or do not cover the seeds at all,  as they require light to germinate.
• Mist the seeds lightly after sowing them.
• Cover the container with a plastic lid or bag to create a warm environment.
• Place the container with the medium and seeds in a warm place where it will receive bright, indirect light.
• Mist the seeds as needed prior to germination, so that the surface of the medium remains constantly slightly moist, but not wet.
• Germination takes place in Summer.
• Once seedlings emerge, remove any lid or bag covering the seeds and decrease the frequency of misting so that the surface of the medium is allowed to dry out slightly between watering.
• Transplant the young seedlings into pots or outdoors once they have two pairs of true leaves.
• Use a high-quality potting soil or work an organic matter like well-rotted compost or aged manure into the ground prior to planting, as this herb prefers well-drained, rich soil.