Spilanthes (Toothache Plant) in Zone 5a & 5b
Spilanthes oleracea
Yes, spilanthes (toothache plant) grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Mar 29–Apr 5 and plant out May 17–May 24.
When to plant spilanthes (toothache plant) in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Mar 29–Apr 5 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 17–May 24 |
| Estimated bloom | Jul 21–Jul 28 (~65 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of spilanthes (toothache plant) in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 17–May 24
- MarigoldMay 17–May 24
- Ageratum (Flossflower)May 17–May 24
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)May 17–May 24
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)May 17–May 24
- Campanula (Bellflower)May 17–May 24
Spilanthes, commonly called the toothache plant, is grown as much as a novelty edible as an ornamental. Chewing a leaf or flower bud produces a genuine numbing, tingling sensation, traditionally used to ease tooth pain.
How spilanthes (toothache plant) fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Spilanthes (toothache plant) needs about 65 days from sowing to first bloom.
Spilanthes (Toothache Plant) planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 8–Apr 15 | May 27–Jun 3 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 18–Apr 25 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Aug 10–Aug 17 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 3–Apr 10 | May 22–May 29 | Jul 26–Aug 2 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 17–May 24 | Jul 21–Jul 28 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 14–Mar 21 | May 2–May 9 | Jul 6–Jul 13 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jun 21–Jun 28 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 11–Feb 18 | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jun 5–Jun 12 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 4–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 28–May 5 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 19–Dec 26 | Feb 6–Feb 13 | Apr 12–Apr 19 |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 20–Nov 27 | Jan 8–Jan 15 | Mar 14–Mar 21 |
Bloom dates are about 65 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for spilanthes (toothache plant).
Where to buy spilanthes seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries spilanthes seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing spilanthes (toothache plant)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Spilanthes (Toothache Plant) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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