The Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ is native to Japan, Korea, southern China and Southeast Asia and commonly known as chameleon plant. It is a genus from the Saururaceae family. Cordata means heart shaped and refers to the heart shaped the leaves.
Because of the nice colours of the foliage the chameleon plant is a nice and colourful accent in your garden and on top of that it also produces nice white little flowers. The Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ is a bog plant and grows well in the water or in moist soil but it also grows in dry soil. It also grows in sun and shade. Be careful because the Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ may be categorized as a weed. It tends to be invasive. Its rhizomes grow rapidly all over your garden. It is wise to put a plastic rim around the plant to keep it under control.
The chameleon plant emits quite a strong smell if bruised. I personally do not like that smell very much. In the winter the Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ dies above ground.
The more sun the more red in the leaves.
Attracts bees: no
Characteristic: newly emerging every year
Exposure: sun/part shade
Flower colour: white
Flowering time: July – August
Foliage colour: green/red/yellow
Fragrant flower: no
Hardiness: -20 ºC (-4 ºF)
Height: 12 inches (30 cm)
Soil: normal/ moist