Acmella oleracea
Pará cress
A tender, evergreen perennial usually grown as an annual, with culinary and medicinal uses. The leaves are dark bronzy green and the petal-less, pompom flowers, produced from mid-summer to early autumn, are yellow with a red centre
Other common names
agrião do paraBrazil cress
see morebrede mafane
eye ball plant
novacaine plant
phak khraat hua van
salad cress
spot plant
toothache plant
para cress
Synonyms
Spilanthes 'Peek-a-boo'Spilanthes acmella 'Brede Mafane'
see moreAcmella oleracea 'Brede Mafane'
Acmella oleracea 'Peek-a-boo'
Spilanthes acmella misapplied
Spilanthes oleracea
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Red Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Red Yellow | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Acmella can be either annual or perennial herbs and are native to the Americas. Their branching stems can grow either horizontally or vertically. Flowers are solitary, and most commonly yellow or orange in colour but occasionally white or purple.
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Sow seed in pots in frost-free conditions - do not cover as the seeds need light to germinate. Plant young plants out when all risk of frost has passed, and remove plants at the end of the season. Does best in a sunny position, in moist, fertile, well-drained, neutral soil
Propagation
Propagate by seed, or by softwood cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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