out of control ground cover - Chameleon

I have lived in my home for about 5 years and am pretty new to gardening, identifying/caring for plants. The original owner planted all kinds of perrenial beds, trees, shrubs, etc., about 15 years ago. Over the years I have watched many changes in the growth, spreading, etc. I assumed or trusted that what was here was planned and would co-exist with other plants. One plant that has got me a bit crazy lately is a ground cover which has taken over about half of our beds and seems to slowly eliminate other plants. It is 'Chameleon" or Houttuynia Cordata. Everything I have read about it says it is very hard to get rid of. The root system is everywhere. Does anyone have expereince with this plant? Have you ever tried to get rid of beds of it? We have so many other things I'm fearful I will kill everything. I also wonder how it is showing up clear across the yard in new beds. It also always seems to sprout right next to another plant...irises, coreopsis, cherry laurels (I think it killed many of these). Well, I hate to sound dramatic, but this is the most invasive plant I have ever seen. Advice, thoughts are welcome.

It can be an invasive plant I agree and it sounds as though you have a problem. I did grow this amongst large hostas and will do so again, but the bed I grew it in was confined all by itself and a good distance from other beds. I did find that it pulled up quite easily though, perhaps because the soil was continuously moist. Have you tried pulling it up? If you do make sure the ground is wet, so that you pull all the roots up. It could be that the previous owners planted it everywhere which would explain how it has spread so much. Can you give me more details about the areas where it is growing, the condition of the soil etc.

Each area varies a little bit (some dryer areas, some damper). Our walkway to the front door which is lined with cherry laurels is a little higher than the rest of the property, fairly dry, some sun, facing west (lots of rocks, mulch) - the entire area is covered with chameleon. The side of the house where the water runs (wandering hydranga, mahonias, flowers, etc., -it's all over there in mulched beds). And all around the deck (pretty good size) where it can get damp it has taken over (last summer it even grew under the deck). Do you find that you constantly manage it throughout the summer? Do you have to keep it away from other plants? Last summer it grew up into the branches, trunks of crepe myrtles, rose bushes....
For the most part it is not in any of the beds around the perimeter of the propoerty...it just showed up last year in one. I'm not sure how? I spent this afternoon digging it up there. The roots snap so easily - next time I will try your suggestion of wetting the area first.
We recently pulled up some older cherry laurels in a bed out front - we'd like to plant flowers now - would you refill that whole area with new soil or just take as many roots out as possible? It's about 8 ft x 20 ft and the surrounding beds (attached) have it everywhere.

The wetter the area the happier this plant will be. It does look as though the other people did plant it everywhere then. In the beds where you have crepe myrtles etc I would start to dig the plant out but I'm sure there is something on the market that you can use to eradicate it. Maybe someone can advise you on that because I don't use chemicals if I can help it. A systemic weed killer that you brush onto the leaves would be a good choice. As for the cherry laurel area, I would think that if you incorporated new soil that would encourage this plant even more. I would try and get as many roots out as possible and depending on how you felt about it, laying down plastic sheeting to smother any emerging new growth, or a similar material. Of course, this would entail looking at at bare ground for maybe a season but it should be worth it. You can always cover the plastic with mulch to disguise it and place potted plants in that area or a garden seat etc. Would this be possible?

Thanks - your ideas are great- we'd thought about the garden seat too. It's good to hear supporting ideas (plastic, etc.). I think I was hoping for a miracle(!). Where I put the plastic there are surrounding beds with the chameleon in it....almost all beds are connected. Without pulling it all (would take all summer), I think I need to work on one bed at a time and maybe over the next few years, it will be maintainable. Thanks!

weggers - yes, one bed at a time. I have learnt over the years that you just can't do everything overnight. Good luck and by the way, nice to see another VA gardener here although I am originally from England :-)

The best way to get rid of it is some gasoline and a match! {G}

Some Roundup and a paintbrush will enable you to kill the wee...I mean groundcover, ;*) and you will still have all of your desirables. It's a labor intensive approach, but a lot less intensive than digging everything up and trying to separate the good from the bad and too bad it isn't ugly.

Weggers, Sunflower is talking about the systemic weed killer that I suggested up there somewhere :-)

Thanks Sunflower and Louisa....the gasoline and match sound tempting! I am working on rocks this weekend...still posturing on what to do with my other friend(!).
Louisa, also glad to see another Virginian (although originally from New Jersey). Also spent a lot of time in C-ville!

Keep in touch Weggers - will probably have something you might want to trade for later on. Same state, could be next day delivery then ...lol (I don't think so)!! Playing with rocks now eh? Looks as though I will be following in your footsteps!!