RE: Houttuynia cordata, smoke bush

Theresa,

You're definitely fooling yourself if you think houttuynia cordata will
stay put!  Also it reaches 18" to 2' tall.  So, it's not exactly short.

Chris
Long Island, NY
Zone 7

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On
Behalf Of Theresa- yahoo
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 10:08 PM
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Subject: RE: [CHAT] Houttuynia cordata, smoke bush

Appaently this is my year to buy invasive plants, only to find out
later.  I
bought one of these last weekend- the day after I dug up my "Fen's Ruby"
Euphorbia and put it in a pot to restrain it.  I had planned on the
houttunynia cordata as a patch of low growing color in a dryish border-
think it would be Ok- or am I just kidding myself.

Theresa
Sac, Ca zone 8-9

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On
Behalf Of Chs
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 4:26 AM
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Subject: RE: [CHAT] Houttuynia cordata, smoke bush


Chris
Long Island, NY
Zone 7

Good morning all!

I've been trying to remove Houttuynia cordata (Chameleon Vine) from
several gardens beds for years!  The first few years it behaved itself,
so I gave it to all my gardening friends!  I'm surprised that they still
speak to me!  I have spent hours sifting the soil where it's growing,
but every little root hair seems to return as a new plant!  In one bed I
ruthlessly pull 3/4 of it out a few times a season.

Don't plant it!  It grows as aggressively in full shade as well as full
sun.  The only way that I appreciate it is as a bouquet partially
submerged in one of my water gardens.  It will do quite well without
soil.

I think it's flower is somewhat like a dogwood and quite pretty.  I have
two forms of the beast growing in my gardens. One is mostly green with a
red blush and the other is the red/cream/green form.  The leaves have an
awful odor.

If you'd like to see a photo let me know.

I'm thinking of planting a smoke bush to replace a large privet that I
had removed.  I was thinking of Cotinus 'Royal Purple'.  Will it keep
its color all season?  How big can I expect it to grow?  I've read very
differing info on the net!

We're still not in our house post-fire, but the carpeting is starting
this morning, so I took a day off from work.

Chris

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index