Deeproot Plant Base Online - Spilanthes oleracea 'Peek-a-Boo'

Plant Base Online (beta)

botanical name:
Spilanthes oleracea 'Peek-a-Boo'

common name: Eyeball Plant, Para Cress, Toothache plant
synonyms: Acmella oleracea 'Peek-a-Boo'
family: Asteraceae

characteristics: perennial, ground-cover
height: 0.37m width: 0.75m
growth rate: fast
growth habit: mounding
leaf colour: dark green
flower colour: yellow
main period of interest: Summer

edible

medicinal

growing conditions: full sun, part shade, moist soil
prefered soil pH: neutral-acid
minimum temperature: 0°C
USDA zone: 10 to 11

description:
Tender perennial usually grown as an annual. Curious globular to olive-shaped yellow flower with a deep burgundy red eye, carried on long stems above dark bronzy-green leaves. Mounding or sprawling habit.

cultivation:
Moist, well drained, fertile humus-rich soil in sun or light shade. Not frost hardy and needs warm conditions to thrive, therefore normally grown as an annual.

propagation:
From seed, sown in warm conditions in early spring.

usage:
Summer bedding, containers
Leaves are edible but with an acid taste, not to everyone's liking. Chewing them may also cause numbing of the tongue and gums!
It is reputed to have value as a medicinal herb, being anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

other notes:
Note; this may or may not be the same plant as Spilanthes oleracea 'Hide 'n' Seek'?