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Para Cress yellow - Bredy Mafana - Spilanthes oleracea

Spilanthes oleracea
Brazil cress, Brede mafane, Eye ball plant, Novacaine plant, Para cress, Salad cress, Spot plant, Toothache plant

4,7/5
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Sown indoors 3 days ago. Too early to give an informed opinion. (hence the median star rating.)

Sandrine , 29/04/2021

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

Value-for-money
A culinary herb with a spicy flavour and an astonishing anaesthetic property. It is a small vegetable curiosity whose leaves and flowers are consumed fresh or dried, in dishes with bold flavours such as Romazava, a traditional Malagasy dish. It is an exotic plant that can be sown from April to July.
Ease of cultivation
Amateur
Height at maturity
15 cm
Spread at maturity
20 cm
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Germination time (days)
10 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing
Sowing period April to July
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time August to October
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Harvest time June to October
J
F
M
A
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J
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D

Description

Spilanthes oleracea is an aromatic vegetable plant with a spicy flavour and astonishing anaesthetic properties. It is a small vegetable curiosity whose leaves and flowers are consumed fresh or dried, in dishes with strong flavours like Romazava, a traditional Malagasy dish. It is an exotic plant whose seeds can be sown from April to July.

 

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. It originates from South America. It is is also called Brazilian cress and para cress.

It is an annual herbaceous plant with a spreading habit, measuring about 15cm (6in) in height and 20cm (8in) in width. It develops medium green foliage composed of slightly toothed oblong leaves that are highly aromatic. Its edible flowers appear from August to October, in the form of conical yellow pompoms tinged with red.

In cooking, para cress is an essential ingredient in Romazava, the national dish of Madagascar. It is used raw or cooked in many exotic dishes. It boasts a spicy, peppery flavour (in Malagasy, "breda mafane" literally translates to "hot herb"). It also has a brief anaesthetic effect that can be surprising! The flowers can also be consumed sparingly, as their taste and effect are very pronounced.

Plant it in rich and well-draining soil in a sunny spot. It does not tolerate cold, drought, or waterlogged soils. It can be grown in pots or containers, which is even recommended.

 

Harvest: it takes place approximately 60 days after sowing before the plant is ready for harvest. The leaves are picked as needed when the flower buds start to open. Cutting the stems will encourage new shoots.

Storage: the leaves should be consumed a few hours after harvesting. However, they can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days, wrapped in a damp cloth. You can also dry them.

Gardener's tip: once the plants are developed, mulch the soil with successive thin layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves. This protection keeps the soil moist and reduces weeding.

Harvest

Harvest time June to October
Type of vegetable Aromatic
Vegetable colour green
Size of vegetable Small
Interest Flavour, Colour
Flavour spicy
Use Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 15 cm
Spread at maturity 20 cm
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Spilanthes

Species

oleracea

Family

Asteraceae

Other common names

Brazil cress, Brede mafane, Eye ball plant, Novacaine plant, Para cress, Salad cress, Spot plant, Toothache plant

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference39391

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Planting and care

Sowing

The seeds germinate at a temperature around 18°C (64.4°F). It usually takes 10 days for the seeds to sprout. Choose a sunny area. Sow the seeds directly in the soil from April to July in rich and well-drained soil. When the young plants have 3-4 leaves, thin them out, leaving one plant every 40cm (16in) in all directions.

Beware of slugs!

Cultivation

It cannot tolerate cold, drought, or waterlogged soil. It can be grown in pots or containers, which is even recommended. In this case, sow the seeds directly in the pot from April and move the container outside at the end of May.

 

 

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Seedlings

Sowing period April to July
Sowing method Direct sowing
Germination time (days) 10 days

Care

Soil moisture Wet
Disease resistance Very good
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden, Greenhouse
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 130
4,7/5
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