“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
(Disclaimer: I am not a physician and cannot offer advice on health care. Please consult with your health care professional before using this plant or any of its parts.)
Toothache plant is one of the strangest plants I have ever grown. It can be grown either as an ornamental or medicinal plant. You won’t believe what these petal-less plants can do to your mouth. Here is how you can grow your own buzz buttons.
| Botanical name | Acmella oleracea |
| Plant type | Medicinal flower |
| Sun exposure | Full to part sun |
| Soil conditions | Dryer and poorer than usual is suitable |
| Bloom and harvest time | Summer as an annual or all seasons indoors(depending on your zone) |
| Difficulty | Easy, Medium, Hard, Extreme |
Buzz buttons are a tropical perennial which means you can grow these plants as an outdoor perennial if you live in zone 10 or warmer. It is still possible to grow these as annuals if you live in a cooler climate. I have successfully grown these plants in my zone 5 garden.
When to plant buzz buttons
Buzz buttons can be directly sown into the garden or you can start them earlier indoors for transplanting. I have better success by starting these plants indoors. If you are planning to sow indoors, 4-6 weeks before your last frost date is a good time to plant. You can also buy plants from a local nursery, but they can be hard to find. Be mindful that frost will kill buzz button plants so make sure you plant them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
How to start buzz button seeds
Buzz button seeds need to be surface sown. This simply means that you do not cover the seeds with soil when planting. For this reason I find it much easier to start seeds indoors. I soak the soil before I sow the seeds then I sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil. Every other day I mist the seeds with water. They can take from a few days to a few weeks to germinate. Patience is key.
Where to plant buzz buttons
Buzz buttons do not enjoy soggy feet. On my property it can be a challenge to find soil that is drier, but I have come up with a solution. I plant my buzz buttons in my lasagna garden. I have found that by using layers of mulched materials I can keep the soil from getting water logged. You will also want to find a sunny part of the garden as buzz buttons are tropical plants that enjoy lots of sun.
How to plant buzz buttons
Once your plants are ready for transplanting, and you have found the right spot, it is time to plant them! Carefully pull the plant out of the pot and transplant into a hole. Plant no deeper than the plant in the pot was. Water well and keep well watered but not waterlogged. Mulching around the plant is always a good idea.
How to encourage flowering
Buzz buttons can be extremely slow to start flowering. It can seem all they want to do is grow leaves. To encourage flowering make sure that they are in full sunlight. You can also pinch the tips to encourage more flowers and bushiness. If you are still do not get your plants to flower stop fertilizing the soil. This can stress the plant into flowering.
Should buzz buttons be fertilized
It is alright to fertilize your buzz buttons but they do not require much fertilizer compared to other plants. Over fertilizing can keep the plants from flowering. I like to use organic fish emulsions on my plants when needed.
How to harvest buzz buttons
Finally you have buzz buttons flower, but when should you harvest the flowers. If you leave the flowers on too long they will go to seed and are no longer good for consumption. A good rule of thumb is to harvest the flowers when they are the most vibrant in color. This is usually less than a week or two after flowers appear. When ready simple cut the flower off and use them.
Do buzz buttons have any pests
No insect has ever attempted to eat my buzz buttons. My guess is they do not enjoy the flavor.
What to use buzz buttons for
Buzz buttons are also called toothache plant for good reason. The flowers cause a tingly sensation in the mouth that turns to a numbing effect. Flowers used to be used for mild toothaches. You can dry these flowers and crush them to use at a later time. The flowers are edible fresh or dried. It has even been said that you can boil the flowers in water and spray the solution on your plants to create a pesticide. Buzz buttons also last a very long time in a vase.
Are buzz buttons safe to consume
I have eaten buzz buttons and have not had any adverse effects. It is said that buzz buttons are completely harmless. However, if you have an allergy to ragweed or daisy plants you should not eat them as they could have an allergic effect.
What happens when you eat a buzz button
Here is what my experience of eating buzz buttons is like.
- After chewing on the flower my mouth begins to tingle like licking a battery
- Then my salivary glands kick into high gear
- Finally there is a numbness that comes over the entire mouth
- After a few minutes everything is back to normal
Although these can just be a novelty plant to grow in you garden the active chmical (Spilanthol) has been studied by scientist for health benefits.
Toothache plant varieties
There are two basic plant varieties the all yellow one that I am growing and the bullseye variety. The bullseye variety is very similar with the only difference being the brown center of the flower that makes it look like a bullseye.
Where can I buy buzz button seeds
Both varieties of toothache plant seeds can be bought at Baker Creek Seeds.
Pin it!
Other post you would enjoy
“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Leave a Reply