Hardy Bog Plants » More Hardy Bog Plants » Houttuynia cordata 'Chamaeleon'

Houttuynia Cordata is a perennial ground cover plant who's natural habitats are moist loamy soils, shallow water and low light situations. It thrives along the margins of ponds and waterways. It has heart shaped leaves up to 75mm long and almost as wide. The leaves are comprised of a mixture of colours from green through yellow to red ('Chamaeleon'), the brighter colours being more prominent when grown in full sunlight. The leaves are opposite along thin erect stems which arise from slender rhizomes. The minute flowers are densely clustered on short spikes. At the base of each spike are four white petal-like parts.

The species is said to have a variety of edible and medicinal uses.