Location specific values:
Array
(
    [lat] => 28.856300
    [lng] => -81.677100
    [elevation] => 22.2716
    [rainfall] => 1273.7285
    [cold_temperature] => 8.6687
    [temperature] => 32.8939
    [user_eto] => 1358.38023197
)

Plant specific values:
Array
(
    [rain_min_irrigation] => 1742
    [eto_corrected] => 1033
    [eto_adjusted_rain_min (rain_min_irrigation / eto_corrected)] => 1.68635044
)
Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata) | Easyscape Plant Profile

Chameleon Plant

(Houttuynia cordata)

Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata)

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Estimated Native Range
Species Map Help

Climate Requirements for Eustis, Florida

This Plant Your Site Plant Suitability for Your Location
• Precipitation 3" - 284" 50" Aquatic Aquatic
• High Temp. 61°F - 111°F 91°F Your summer temperatures are normal for this plant. Excellent
• Low Temp. -16°F - 69°F 48°F Your winter temperatures are normal for this plant Excellent
This plant should grow well at your location with about N inches per year (Y minutes per month) of irrigation.

Summary

Houttuynia cordata, commonly known as Chameleon Plant, is a deciduous or semi-deciduous perennial herb that is native to wetlands, marshes, and damp forest edges in East Asia and the Himalayas. It typically grows to a height of 0.6–1 m (2 ft 0 in – 3 ft 3 in) and can spread up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide. The Chameleon Plant is characterized by its heart-shaped leaves and small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers that bloom in the summer, often overshadowed by more prominent leaf variegation. It is particularly noted for its colorful foliage, which can include shades of green, yellow, red, and even pink, depending on the variety.

The Chameleon Plant is valued for its ground-covering ability and its vibrant foliage that adds a splash of color to moist garden areas. It is often used in bog gardens, around ponds, and in other water features. However, gardeners should be cautious as it can become invasive, spreading rapidly via rhizomes. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers consistently moist to wet soil with good drainage. While it can tolerate a range of soil types, it does best in rich, loamy soils. The plant has some medicinal uses in traditional Chinese medicine, but it is primarily grown for ornamental purposes. Potential problems include its aggressive growth habit, which can lead to it overtaking other plants in the garden.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.8-1.5 feet
  • Width: 1-2 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: White
  • Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: High
  • Drainage: Standing, Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Groundcover, Rabbit Resistant, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Wetlands, marshes, and damp forest edges in East Asia and the Himalayas

Other Names

Common Names: Fish Mint, Fish Leaf, Rainbow Plant, Chameleon, Heart Leaf, Fish Wort, Chinese Lizard Tail, Chameleon-Plant, Houttuynia, Moerasanemoon

Scientific Names: Houttuynia cordata, Houttuynia cordata var. variegata, Houttuynia emeiensis, Houttuynia cordata var. plena, Polypara cordata, Houttuynia chinensis, Houttuynia cordata f. polypetaloidea, Houttuynia cordata f. viridis, Houttuynia cordata var. cordata

GBIF Accepted Name: Houttuynia cordata Thunb.