Spilanthes garden, why is it grown?

Spilanthes oleracea (Brazilian cress) is an edible, medicinal and ornamental plant of the Asteraceae family. Has a strong analgesic effect. The leaves of the plant contain spilanthol, a substance that has a strong analgesic effect.

An alcohol tincture of spilanthes leaves is used as an external pain reliever for toothache, bruises, sprains, arthritis, arthrosis, gout, and rheumatism.Pain relief without side effects.

Growing spilanthes oleracea

Garden spilanthes is grown from seeds, which are sown immediately in open ground (in May) or for seedlings (in April). The seeds are laid out on the damp surface of the soil and only lightly sprinkled with soil. Choose a sunny site. Prefers light soil. Needs regular watering.

After thinning, the distance between plants in a row is increased to 20 cm.

When you see this pretty grass, you won’t think that it is one of the garden rarities: it looks more like some uncommon ornamental plant. Numerous yellow donuts adorned with red-brown caps rise from a dark green carpet of jagged leaves. I think not a single person will pass by this plant without asking: “What is this?”

So I was interested in garden spilanthus primarily for its appearance. Having sowed it, I was eager to find out how long it would bloom, what height it would reach, whether grow in a room?

Watching it, I discovered that its creeping shoots, in contact with moist soil, quickly produce roots. Hence, the ability of its cuttings to quickly take root in the ground and sand is not surprising.

It was fascinating to watch the inflorescences, or rather, how the yellow ball with a spot on the top turns into a cone and loses its “cap”. Spilanthes blooms in summer, seeds ripen in August-September. Ripe seeds fall off at the slightest touch.

Spilanthes is a perennial plant, but its heat-loving nature (widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics) makes it an annual plant in our climate. The plant cannot withstand even light autumn frosts. I want to move the spilantes home for the winter.But even if he doesn’t like the room, I won’t be very upset, since growing spilanthes from seeds is not difficult.

I didn’t even bother with the seedlings, but in May I immediately sowed the seeds in open ground, finding a bright place. Watered moderately, in hot weather - abundantly. If spilanthes is not watered on time, it withers so much that it seems impossible to save it. But after abundant watering it is revived.

Use of spilantes

The leaves have a burning, piquant aroma and are used as a spice in salads, added to seasonings, sauces, stewed meats, and vegetables. If you chew the leaves, your lips and tongue lose sensitivity, even acute toothache subsides for a few minutes. The anesthetic ability of Brazilian cress has found application: the herb is included in dental tinctures and elixirs. The leaves, beaten with a wooden rolling pin, are applied to wounds and abrasions to relieve pain.

Spilanthes can be harvested for future use. Plants dried in dry weather outdoors or in a well-ventilated area retain their healing properties. And, of course, it can be used as an annual ornamental plant. If you plant several plants nearby, the unusual curtain will definitely attract attention.

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