A Funny Plant with a Painful Name - The Toothache Plant

The first time I saw this plant was in a Texas garden nursery. I heard a squeal of delight as someone exclaimed, “The Dr. Seuss Flower!”

Indeed, it does look like something out of Horton Hears a Who! This funny little flower is also called the eyeball plant or peek-a-boo plant. Most often it’s called the toothache plant because chewing on the leaves and flowers causes mouth numbness and drooling—a fetching look at garden parties. Today, I prefer going to the dentist myself, but it must have been a handy little plant to have around before that was an option for most people.

The toothache plant can add a touch of whimsy to borders and blends nicely with oranges and orange-reds. It is covered with blooms from June to September, so it’s a plant that pulls its own weight in the garden without requiring a lot of fussing over. And, thank goodness, it provides a bit of variety from the standard garden flowers that everyone else is growing.

Details for Growing: The toothache plant (spilanthes oleracea) only grows to be about 12 to 15 inches and 18 inches across. A tropical flower, they are grown as annuals above Zone 10. They can be started easily in flats indoors, by direct seeding or even propagation from stem cuttings. It will need full sun and regular water. They do best in high humidity and in a well-drained soil.

Availability: Unless you’re among the lucky few whose local garden centers appreciate unusual plants, you’ll need to start these from seed. There are numerous sources on the Internet.