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Houttuynia cordata

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
hoo-TY-nee-ah kor-DAY-tah
Description

Chameleon plant is groundcover in the Saururaceae family native to southeast Asia.  The genus name Houttuynia comes from the 18th centry Dutch naturalist Martin Houttuyn.  Cordata is Latin for heart-shaped referring to leaves.

With a creeping habit, it spreads quickly by rhizomes reaching one to two feet in height and can continuously spread along the ground as it grows.   While it is very shade tolerant it does not tolerate drought conditions, preferring moist soil to shallow standing water (1-2 in.) This plant can become problematic to remove once established. 

Exercise caution when using this plant in the landscape by putting it in a 1 to 2-gallon container in the ground, or an area bounded by sidewalk or driveway to contain it.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Aphids, slugs and snails can be problematic.  Spreads aggressively, consider native alternatives in the left-hand column.  

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Chameleon'
    synonymous with 'Variegata' or 'Tricolor' leaves of red, pink, yellow, cream
  • 'Plena'
'Chameleon', 'Plena'
Tags:
#deciduous#fragrant leaves#high maintenance#standing water tolerant#fast growing#aggressive#summer flowers#wet soils tolerant#malodorous#drought intolerant#container plant#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Chameleon'
    synonymous with 'Variegata' or 'Tricolor' leaves of red, pink, yellow, cream
  • 'Plena'
'Chameleon', 'Plena'
Tags:
#deciduous#fragrant leaves#high maintenance#standing water tolerant#fast growing#aggressive#summer flowers#wet soils tolerant#malodorous#drought intolerant#container plant#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Houttuynia
    Species:
    cordata
    Family:
    Saururaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in Vietnamese cooking
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern Asia
    Edibility:
    This plant is consumed in areas of the Far East
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Water Plant
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny flowers are on tall conical lime green spikes surrounded by four white bracts.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Blue green ovate to cordate simple leaves with entire margins. Leaves may be aromatic with a foul fishy odor if crushed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heavy Shade
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Malodorous
    Weedy