Houttuynia cordata
Heart-leaf fishwort
- Height × spread
- 0.46m – 0.46m × 0.46m – 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A low growing spreading plant that can develop into a substantial colony, given the right conditions. It will gently spread via underground stems. The leaves are neat, roughly heart-shaped and coloured a good clear green. There are a number of variegated forms where the foliage is coloured in highly desirable shades of green, red, cream, yellow and orange shades. It flowers from July for some weeks when the dainty five-petalled white blooms are an attractive feature. This is often grown at the edge of ponds as it enjoys plenty of moisture. It is an accommodating plant and is also happy in a good-sized container where it looks healthy and appealing all summer through, provided it is regularly watered. The foliage is in fact edible and the leaves have an orange fragrance if crushed.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Pink, Red, White, Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.46m – 0.46m
- Spread
- 0.46m – 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover
- Hazards
- No
AutumnNow
Autumn - late · Outdoors
Apply mulch
Spread organic material around the plant being careful not to bury its crown, or to put the mulch above the point at which the plant has been grafted in the case of trees.
A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.
Autumn · Planting
Prune foliage back
Cut foliage back to the ground in autumn.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water frequently to keep the soil moist
The plant thrives in moist or boggy soil, doesn't tolerate dryness and should be watered frequently, not only after a period of drought, but if the soil begins to dry out spring to autumn. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Apply slow release fertiliser
Apply a slow release fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plants soon after they have come into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.