Description
Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’
color best in fall
comes in a 3 gallon container
H. cordata – This deciduous, rapidly, spreading perennial found from the Himalayas to Japan grows 6-12″ tall with an indefinite spread. It produces simple, ovate to heart shaped, dull bluish or grayish green leaves, 1 1/4-3 ½” long, with red tinted edges. The leaves have unusual, orange-like scent when bruised. In summer, bears dense spikes, to 1 1/4″ long, of tiny, yellowish green flowers, surrounded at the base by 4-6 green-white, later pure white, obovate, petal like bracts, to ½” across.
‘Chameleon’ – ‘Tricolor’ – ‘Variegata’ – is the most popular form and has brightly variegated leaves in shades of green,, cream, pink and red and is less spreading than the species.
perennial – Grow in moderately fertile, humus rich, moist soil in full sun or dappled shaped, variegate cultivars produce greener leaves in shade. On wet soils where marginally hardy, apply a loose but deep winter mulch to protect the roots. At the water’s edge, grow in 3-4″ of water, in shallow ponds, the spread may be limited by planting in a large container. Divide rhizomes in late spring.
zones 5-11
