Re: Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' was: Any colorful shadeplantsthat last all summer?

Thanks for the information about the houttyania, Marge....guess I will
stay away from it.  Only I DID plant it in my old garden....before I
knew how intrusive it is supposed to be.  Hope they are faring okay with
it!

marilyn

Marge Talt wrote:

> Well, Marilyn, this one is said to grow in shallow water, so it just
> might survive in a pot with no drainage holes, although the soil
> would probably become pretty stagnant after a while. I do not think
> it is an actual bog plant, but have seen it listed on various pond
> and water plant sites as a shallow water plant.
>
> >From my observations in my garden, it spreads by fairly fat, white
> either roots or underground rhizomes - dunno which.  It took mine
> about three years in a relatively dry border of amended clay to start
> investigating beyond its original site.  It now has infiltrated one
> whole end of the border (after maybe 8 or 10 years) and is probably
> thinking about moving south as well.  It is stopped by flagstone
> walks on two sides and a concrete foundation on one, but I note it is
> now exploring the spaces between the flags:-)
>
> I would think that in a moist soil this plant would take off and take
> over in fast time.
>
> Since mine is in a fair amount of shade, the plants get easily 18"
> tall, maybe more as they poke up inside of assorted azaleas, etc.  I
> understand it is shorter in sun.
>
> You can yank it out or whack it back to keep it in line, but if root
> is left in the soil, it will sprout.
>
> I have not tried to dig mine out as it is actually co-existing with
> the other inhabitants fairly well - just a few yanks or whacks here
> and there when it gets a bit exuberant.  So, I have no clue how far
> down in the soil the roots/rhizomes go.  I know they are evident say
> 6" under the soil line as I have encountered them on planting other
> things in that border.  Unlike mint, it does not seem to root in
> where stems might touch ground - stems want to be vertical, any way,
> not horizontal.
>
> So, in a long answer to your question...really don't know whether it
> would emerge out of the bottom of a large pot and infiltrate the
> surrounding soil, but would not like to bet the farm that it
> wouldn't:-)
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@clark.net
> Editor:  Gardening in Shade
> -----------------------------------------------
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> ----------
> > From: marilyn <marimuse@EARTHLINK.NET>
> > Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 10:45 AM
> >
> > Hi, Marge and all....I have a question about the suggestion to
> plant an
> > invasive plant in a pot.....don't the roots come out through the
> hole in
> > the bottom?  and if there is no hole, wouldn't it rot?
> >
> > marilyn
> >
> > Marge Talt wrote:
> >
> > > Hmmm, Ginny, then I'll revert to what was, I think, the original
> > > suggestion, Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'
> > >
> > > Does it look anything like this?
> > >
> > > http://em.ca/garden/per_houttuynia_cordata1.html
> > >
> > > Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> > > mtalt@clark.net
> > > Editor:  Gardening in Shade
> > > -----------------------------------------------
> > > Current Article: Deciduous Flowering Shrubs - Part 3
> > > http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222
> > > ------------------------------------------------
> > > Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date
> > > http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html
> > > ------------------------------------------------
> > > All Suite101.com garden topics :
> > > http://www.suite101.com/category.cfm/gardening
> > >
> > > ----------
> > > > From: virginia prins <inanda@BC.SYMPATICO.CA>
> > > > Date: Monday, July 17, 2000 5:38 PM
> > > >
> > > > Hi Marg,
> > > > No not painters Palette.  Finally got round to reading your
> message
> > > > while online.  Try again.  Far more yellow and red.
> > > >
> > > > Ginny in Victoria BC who meant to take a bit to Butchart
> Gardesn
> > > for ID
> > > > yesterday, but forgot.
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