Houttuynia cordata

Houttuynia cordata is a small perennial ground cover plant, with dark green foliage with bronze reflections that can become invasive in suitable conditions.

Also called Chameleon Plant or Heart-Leaved Houttuynia, Houttuynia cordata has very aromatic foliage, often used as a condiment in Asian cuisine.

Apart from its unique flavour, Houttuynia cordata is mainly cultivated for its ornamental foliage. In spring, stems with heart-shaped leaves appear. In early summer, the plant produces conical flowers, with 4 large white bracts.

With rapid growth, Houttuynia spreads through its numerous running underground rootstocks. It can even become invasive in rich and waterlogged soils. Very hardy and easy to grow, it prefers to grow in partial shade in any rich, moist, and heavy soil, even clay.

Plant it in the border of a partially shaded flower bed alongside epimediums, periwinkle, or Pachysandra.