A deciduous groundcover with striking multicolored foliage that is adaptable to fairly dry or soaking wet sites.
The Chameleon houttuynia or Chameleon Plant was named after Martin Houttuyn, an 18th century Dutch naturalist.
Blooming in June and July, the flowers consist of four white bracts that are barely noticeable, and often lost
amongst the showy leaf variegation. Houttuynia foliage has a pungent, peculiar smell when crushed or cut.
Its heart shaped leaves are splashed with wide leaf margins of red, bronze, cream, and yellow that contrast well
with the otherwise green leaf blade. Leaves are alternate along the upright to procumbent herbaceous stems, with
cordate base and ovate leaf blade to 3 inches.
The best foliage coloration occurs in full sun, but overall vigor is often best in partial shade, where the foliage
color fades to greens and maroons. Best overall performance occurs in continuously moist, well-drained soils of
average fertility.
Any non-variegated foliage spotted should be immediately removed by digging up that particular stem and crown, to
prevent it from predominating with its greater vigor.
They are quite tolerant of wet sites (including aquatic gardens) and are adaptable to poor, compacted,
and dry soils. When planted in hot, dry sites, growth will be restricted and foliage may scorch in the Summer. If
scorching occurs, mowing off the old foliage and watering the crowns will quickly bring new foliage.
Houttuynia can be used for edging, borders, foundation, focal point, bed or planter groundcover. Due to its invasive
underground spreading rhizomes it should only be used in a restricted root zone area, because of its rapid spread
out-of-bounds.
To contain its spread, place it in a restricted root zone area that is about 1 foot deep. Areas such as those that
are bounded by a sidewalk and foundation are ideal. You can also plant them in a large pot with minimal drainage
holes, then sink the pot in the ground.
