Eyeball Plant 'Peek-a-Boo'

A sun-loving mounded plant that can tolerate partial shade as well, Spilanthes shoots up quickly from a spring planting, reaching 12 to 15 inches tall and spreading 24 to 30 inches wide. Pinch it well as it grows to encourage better branching, because each charming 1-inch bloom arises on its own stem, bobbing merrily at you all summer long! The stems are strong enough for cutting, and these bicolor blooms combine well in the vase with all your other summer annuals, from crisp white Cosmos to bold green Zinnia!

Even the leaves of the Eyeball Plant are interesting. They emerge a rich bronze in spring and keep their bronzy highlights all season, making a dazzling backdrop for the blooms. A fine container choice, this plant is also eyecatching (ha ha!) in a large planting, which should be spaced rather close to encourage thicker concentration of the blooms.

Sow seeds indoors before the last frost, barely covering them (light is necessary for germination) and maintaining a temperature of at least 72 degrees F. They germinate in just a few days, and will be ready to bloom in about 3 months. Space plants 18 inches apart in the sunny to lightly shaded garden. Pkt is 10 seeds.