Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’)
| Size | 1 Ltr, 1Ltr Pack of 3, 3 Ltr, 9cm Pack of 3, 5 Ltr |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Marginal |
| Sun / Shade | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Flower Colour | White |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Native to UK | No |
| Plant group |
A vibrant marginal plant with striking pink, yellow, and green foliage, perfect for adding colour, ground cover, and wildlife value to pond edges and bog gardens.
Price range: £14.00 through £42.00 (inc VAT)
Chameleon Plant | Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’
Colourful variegated marginal plant for vibrant pond edges and bog gardens
Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’) is one of the most colourful and visually striking marginal plants you can introduce to a pond or bog garden. Its unique variegated foliage blends shades of green, yellow, and pink, creating a constantly changing display that intensifies in full sun. This makes it an excellent choice for adding year round interest, even when flowers are not present.
During the warmer months, typically from June through to August, the plant produces small, delicate white flowers with soft yellow centres. While subtle compared to the foliage, these blooms add a gentle contrast and help attract pollinators such as bees. However, the real appeal of this plant lies in its foliage, which provides a bold splash of colour around pond edges and damp planting areas.
Chameleon Plant is a low growing, spreading perennial that forms dense ground cover through its rhizomatous growth habit. This makes it particularly effective for stabilising soil, reducing erosion around pond margins, and suppressing weeds. It is well suited to naturalistic planting schemes and wildlife ponds, where it provides shelter for amphibians and beneficial insects.
This plant thrives in consistently moist to wet soil and performs best when planted on shallow pond shelves or in boggy areas. It can tolerate both full sun and partial shade, although the most vibrant colouration is achieved in sunnier positions. Being fully hardy across most of the UK, it is a reliable and low maintenance addition to any pond.
It is worth noting that Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ can spread quite vigorously in ideal conditions. For smaller ponds or more controlled planting areas, it is best kept within an aquatic basket. This helps manage its growth while still allowing it to provide excellent coverage and visual impact.
🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.
Key Benefits
- Highly colourful variegated foliage in green, yellow, and pink
- Excellent ground cover for pond margins and bog gardens
- Helps stabilise soil and suppress weeds
- Attracts pollinators such as bees
- Provides shelter for amphibians and pond wildlife
- Fully hardy and easy to grow in UK conditions
Reasons to Buy
- One of the most colourful marginal plants available
- Ideal for brightening pond edges and damp planting areas
- Great for wildlife friendly ponds and natural gardens
- Easy to manage when planted in aquatic baskets
- Reliable and low maintenance once established
Care Instructions
- Plant on a marginal shelf at a depth of 0 cm to 10 cm, measured from the top of the basket to the water surface.
- Position in full sun or partial shade. For the best foliage colour, place in a sunny location. Keep soil consistently moist or wet at all times. To control spread, grow in an aquatic basket and trim back rhizomes as required. Cut back any untidy or damaged foliage in spring to encourage fresh growth.
Flowering Period
June to August
Size and Growing Conditions
Botanical Name: Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’
Common Name: Chameleon Plant
Plant Type: Marginal
Flower Colour: White
Height: 20cm to 50cm
Spread: Up to 1 metre
Growth Rate: Medium
Planting Depth: 0cm to 10cm
Position: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist to wet, ideal for pond margins and boggy areas
Native to the UK: No
Dispatching Your Pond Plants
Your Chameleon Plant will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.
Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.
To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.
Available basket sizes:
- Pack of 3 × 9cm Pots
- 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
- Pack of 3 × 1 Litre Baskets – each usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square
- 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm
- 5 Litre Square Basket – 24 × 24 × 14cm
Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.
Plants supplied in 9cm pots require potting into suitable aquatic baskets before being placed in the pond.
Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.
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