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Toothache Plant (Spilanthes oleracea) - The bronze-green leaves and the more potent yellow flowers have a taste and properties similar to coneflower. The yellow flowers and green leaves of toothache plant can be used in salads. The leaves/bud parts can be used in cocktails and ice dishes. Also called eyeball plant and paracress. Of course, there is a reason this Spilanthes is called toothache plant. It is called the toothache plant because it is said that when you chew on the leaves or flowers it produces a numbing effect to the tongue and gums. Toothache plant, or grows well in full sun to partial shade reaching a height of 18 to 24 inches with a spread of 24 to 30 inches. It has bronze-green foliage with yellow flowers with a red eye on top of long stems (which kind of looks like an eyeball; hence, the other name). To promote bushy growth wait until the fourth set of true leaves appear then pinch back the plant to the second set of true leaves. It is easily started from herb seeds directly sown in the garden or indoors sown in seed flats. Toothache plant grows as a perennial in frost free zones or indoors, but as an annual outdoors in cold environments.