Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' - Chameleon Plant, Pond Marginal Plant

Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' (also sold as 'Tricolor'), known as chameleon plant, is grown for its aromatic, heart-shaped leaves, splashed with cream and yellow and heavily flushed red. Small white flowers appear in summer.

Chameleon plant at a glance

Botanical name	Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' (syn. 'Tricolor')
Common name	Chameleon plant, heart-leaved houttuynia
Plant type	Spreading perennial; dies back in winter
Height and spread	About 15–30 cm tall, spreading 50–100 cm
Flowers	Small white flowers with white bracts, June to August (RHS: from late spring)
Position	Full sun or part shade; best colour in sun
Soil	Moist to wet soil or wet mud; any pH
Pond depth	Wet mud or shallow water; Waterside Nursery allows a shelf up to about 14 cm deep
Hardiness	RHS H6 – hardy in a very cold winter (-20 to -15°C)
Native to	East Asia (not UK native)

Does chameleon plant spread?

Yes, a lot. It spreads by underground stems, especially in wet soil, and the RHS warns it can become a nuisance. It regrows from small pieces of root. Always grow it in a basket and trim the roots that escape.

Where to plant it

The shallow edge of a garden pond, in a basket
Wet mud at the pond margin
Moist to wet soil in sun or part shade, kept in a basket

How to plant and care for it

Plant from spring to late summer in moist to wet soil. Leaf colour is best in sun. As a non-native plant, keep it to garden ponds and do not plant it near natural water.

Which size should I buy?

Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display. Packs of 3 come in 7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre bare-root sizes and cost less per plant. The 2x Pot & Compost option is two plants supplied with pots and compost.