Re: Houttunyia cordata was: What is creeping chameleon?
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- Subject: Re: Houttunyia cordata was: What is creeping chameleon?
- From: M* T*
- Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 17:36:36 -0400
Houttunyia cordata is, indeed, an effective ground cover, particularly in
moist soil where it is rampant. It will also grow happily in a couple of
inches of water. In dry soil, it is slightly better behaved; at least, it
takes it a few years to hit its stride.
I have it in a bed with assorted shrubs and perennials - who all seem to be
holding their own - and admire its leaf variegation, if not its scent
(which I find rather revolting).
This said, *please* be careful about where you place this plant. It is
_rampant_ and spreads via white, questing underground roots. It is, I
understand, virtually impossible to eradicate should it get going too well
in the wrong place. If you have just planted it, and possibly in the wrong
place for the long term, move it ASAP....
Do not place it near any small or delicate or rare plants; it will
overwhelm them.
I give mine a haircut when it gets too exuberant, just so its neighbors can
actually find some air to breathe.
Mine is confined to this bed by a concrete walk base on one side and a
flagstone path on stonedust on the other...at one end, it is exploring a
disintegrating set of railroad tie steps and it is thinking seriously about
emerging from the cracks in the flagstone walk. I discourage this
behavior, but it requires a fair amount of vigilance....it has not, yet
reached the other end of the bed, but it is looking into this possibility
seriously.
It took mine about 3 years to build up enough strength to start getting
inquisitive....and in another three years, it occupied the ground
throughout about a third of this bed which varies from 3 to 5 feet deep and
about 25 feet long. As I said, the other occupants are holding their own,
but they are all big and tough plants....
In a fair amount of shade, amended, double dug clay soil it will reach a
height of around 2' at flowering time....
A word to the wise.....
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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> From: Dee Ann Scheller <dee.ann.scheller@juno.com>
> Date: Thursday, June 17, 1999 3:34 AM
>
> I received chameleon plant along with a selection of perennials form one
> of my daughters last mother's day. I now have at LEAST 50 plants. If
> each of these plants multiply as quickly, the other plants in this
> raised bed will be crowed out.
>
> The name tag on this plant is HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA Effective ground cover
> with heart shaped leaves of white, pink, red and green. This fast
> grower prefers moist, cool conditions and rich soil with lots of room to
> roam.
>
> It is currently blooming, the plants are about 10 inches tall and have a
> small white flower.
>
> Hope this helps
> Dee Ann in S.W. Indiana
>
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