chameleon plant in bog area

I love the colors on the chameleon plant. I have it in of the bog areas.

How much sun does it need? I have a tiny one in a pot that I'm babying until it's big enough to plant.

Thanks,
Barbara, whose pond is still tea colored (maybe a bit better) but who's getting used to it ;-) Fish are out and about and eating well, so life is good.

Mine gets sun until late afternoon.

You shouldn't have to baby your chameleon plant for too long. Mine grows in shade and part shade, and it's pretty invasive, sending runners under the ground and popping up several feet away from the nearest relative. The colors are prettier if it gets some sun, though, and it flowers better.

So what do you plant this in? Floating, clay, dirt, .... I didn't know it would grow in water! Whhoooo Hoooo.

Mel

It is in the bog part. It is in a pot with regular potting soil. The pot is sitting in water about half way up.

Here in 10a it will grow is full sun to full shade and can be very invasive. The red and yellow color variations will be most intense in full sun. It's one of those cute first season plants that is a little slow to start (it's doing most of its work underground) and in the second season you may be asking yourself why you ever planted it.

Has a distinct aroma that some people find unpleasant. More water = faster growth and spread, so a bog or pond setting would probably be just what it likes. :-) Pretty bright white flowers are a plus against the colorful foliage.

Thanks for the info. Maybe I should just leave it in the pot ;-)

Barbara

I have this plant. My neighbor grows it and calls it Houtentenia. I was given some at a local swap by an asian couple. They call it Fish Scales. Used in vietnamese cooking..... I call it that stinky plant... I think it smells like fish, rotten ones..... but I love the shape and color of the leaves. I will have to get some from my neighbor and grow it in the water.

I know all about Taro root growing different in soil and in water. They took over the filtration rocks in our waterfall year before last, and we thought we'd never get it out of there. AND the cute little 4 leaf clover plant in the pond. We now have them all under control, but WOW they perform so different! I will keep it in a pot, and watch it closely!

Thanks for the info!

Mel

Here is the listing from the PlantFiles for Houttuynia cordata
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2164/index.html

Thank you. I will proceed with caution!

mel