Houttuynia spp.

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Fragrant (strong)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 5–11

Overview

Houttuynia spp. is a genus of the lizard-tail family, Saururaceae, grown almost entirely as the single species H. cordata, native to moist ground across the Himalayas, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. It is a low, spreading, rhizomatous perennial 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall that runs underground to form wide colonies. The leaves are alternate, heart-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, blue-green in the species and splashed with cream, yellow, and red in the cultivar 'Chameleon'; crushed foliage gives off a sharp, coriander-to-fish scent that is the source of the name fish mint. In early summer short spikes of many tiny yellowish flowers sit above four white petal-like bracts, so each spike reads as a small white bloom. The plant tolerates wet ground and shallow standing water as well as ordinary moist soil. Its fast-running rhizomes make it hard to remove once settled, and it is treated as invasive in some warm, damp regions. In Asian cooking the leaves and roots are eaten as a pungent herb.

Native Range

Native to moist soils from the Himalayas through China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Suggested Uses

Grown as groundcover in moist borders, bog gardens, and pond edges, and in containers where its spread can be confined. The variegated 'Chameleon' is used for foliage colour in damp, partly shaded beds. The leaves and roots are also grown as a culinary herb.

How to Identify

Recognised by heart-shaped, alternate leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long on a low, spreading plant, blue-green in the species or cream, yellow, and red in the cultivar 'Chameleon'. Crushed leaves smell sharply of coriander or fish. Short summer flower spikes sit above four white bracts, looking like small white flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

red

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs in early to midsummer, about June to July. Each short spike of small yellowish flowers is backed by four white bracts that form the visible part. Bloom lasts several weeks and is followed by small dry capsules.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White bracts with yellowish spike

Foliage Description

Blue-green; cream, yellow and red in variegated forms

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Houttuynia spp. grows in full sun to part shade on consistently moist to wet soils, including pond margins and shallow water to about 2 inches (5 cm) deep. It tolerates most soil types provided they stay damp, and colour in variegated forms is strongest in sun. The running rhizomes spread fast in rich, moist ground, so a root barrier or container limits its reach. Plants are hardy to about USDA zone 5 and die back to the rhizome over winter. Little feeding is needed, and drought checks growth and browns the foliage. Cut stems and rhizome fragments root readily, which adds to its spread.

Pruning

Stems can be cut back hard at any time in the growing season to control size, and the whole plant is cut to the ground in late autumn or winter. Removing rhizomes at the colony edge slows lateral spread. Any plain green shoots arising on variegated forms are cut out to keep the variegation.