Houttuynia cordata
chameleon plant
Overview
Houttuynia cordata is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial in the lizard's-tail family, forming a spreading groundcover 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) tall by aggressive underground runners. The heart-shaped leaves are 1.5–3 inches (4–8 cm) long, pointed, and held on reddish stems; in the widely grown forms the foliage is splashed with green, cream, yellow, and red. Crushing the leaves releases a strong odor often likened to fish or citrus, and the plant is used as a culinary herb in parts of Asia. In summer it bears small flower spikes about 0.4–0.8 inch (1–2 cm) tall, each subtended by four white petal-like bracts. It is native to eastern and Southeast Asia, growing in wet meadows, ditches, and stream banks. Its rhizomes spread aggressively and resprout from small fragments, so it is widely treated as invasive and is grown in contained settings. It grows readily in moist to wet soil in sun or shade but can be difficult to remove once established.
Native Range
Houttuynia cordata is native to eastern and Southeast Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and parts of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, where it grows in damp ground and along streams. It is grown as an ornamental and culinary plant well beyond its native range.Suggested Uses
It is used as a groundcover for moist or boggy ground, at pond margins, and in contained beds where its spread is controlled. It grows in rain gardens and wet shade where few other groundcovers persist.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Bloom Information
Small flower spikes with four white bracts open in summer, roughly June to August. The true flowers are tiny and clustered on the spike. Bloom is modest next to the colored foliage.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green to variegated green, cream, yellow, and redGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Houttuynia cordata grows in full sun to full shade on moist to wet soils and tolerates shallow standing water at pond margins. Foliage color is strongest in sun, while shade favors leafier green growth. It spreads aggressively by rhizomes that resprout from fragments, so it is grown within a buried barrier, a container, or an isolated wet bed. It needs steady moisture and may scorch in dry soil. Removing it once established is difficult, since any rhizome piece left behind regrows.Pruning
Stems are cut to the ground in late autumn after frost knocks back the foliage. Shearing in summer can refresh the leaf color. Digging and barriers, rather than pruning, are used to limit its spread.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fall
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons