The Chameleon Plant or Houttuynia cordata, A Variegated Groundcover

About The Chameleon Plant

The Chameleon Plant or Houttuynia is a perennial that depending on the amount of sun it receives actually changes colour. I had been looking for this groundcover perennial for quite some time and not known to me was the fact that this spreader can also be invasive. In fact, it is consider a noxious pest in both Australia and New Zealand!

For me, I have it planted in my shade garden, ergo my groundcover stays green in colour with a slight red to the stem and leaf edging. The leaf shape actually reminds me of of my Ivy Plant. For now, it has cropped up in three other areas of the shade garden, but nothing unmanageable. As you can see in the above image (from my garden), the delicate white bloom arrives mid summer and stays for a few weeks.

I am impressed so far with this perennial as I like having a ground cover underneath my Ligularia Othello and my Ligularia Rocket. At times the large leaves of the Ligularias can get damaged or wither and having a groundcover solves the problem of too much soil showing.

How To Grow The Chameleon Plant

Slow to emerge through the warming spring soil this spreading groundcover reaches a height of between 6" to 16". Mine seems to be somewhere in the area of about 12" in height. As I had mentioned above, the more sun this perennial spreader receives the more leaf variegation. So if you want lots of reds, pinks and greens, then plant in full sun. The Chameleon can also be planted in pots and semi submerged as a marginal pond plant.

Given that this perennial enjoys a moist soil, I suggest not allowing it to dry out and add some compost to the soil mixture when planting. Because it spreads by underground runners, some gardeners plant the Houttuynia in pots first and then lower into the ground. This keeps the plant in check, so to speak.

I like it because my rabbits don't and that is very important to me since I have many bunnies running around the flowered!

Some great companions plants could be: Ladys Mantle, the Coral Bells Midnight Rose, Oxalis, Astilbe Fanal or the Athyrium Ghost Fern.

Check out my Site Index Page for a listing of additional annuals and perennials to plant in your flower garden design.

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