What's your question? Ask

Top Questions About Chameleon Plant

Click on links below to jump to that question.

Questions About Chameleon Plant

Join Us - Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips!
  • Answered by
    heather on
    June 9, 2016
    Certified Expert
    A.

    You can cut back the plant by up to 1/3 a season with causing it harm. Eventually it will grow back, but you can continue to cut it back by 1/3 each year until you reach the size you desire.

    Was this answer useful?
    00
  • Answered by
    Alisma on
    April 18, 2017
    Certified Expert
    A.

    This article provides a good discussion of the best ways to kill chameleon groundcover (Houttuynia):

    https://ask.extension.org/questions/183060

    Was this answer useful?
    00
  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    August 14, 2017
    Was this answer useful?
    00
  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    December 27, 2017
    A.

    The color is usually more intense in hot weather and with more sun. Another possibility is that some of your plants have reverted to a non-variegated, all-green form and are taking over. This can happen because most variegated plant varieties (those with multicolored leaves) are mutants that are less vigorous than the all-green form of the same species. This article explains why it happens:
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/variegated-plant-problems.htm

    If you still have any plants that have the red color, prune out the green plants around them to encourage the multicolored form to grow.

    Was this answer useful?
    00
  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    January 9, 2018
    A.

    I've looked at several of my usual references, but I haven't been able to find any references to this plant being toxic or non-toxic for cats. ASPCA is usually a great reference, but they don't have this plant listed:
    http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

    Was this answer useful?
    00
  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    June 12, 2018
    A.

    It is extremely difficult to eliminate.
    If you have no other plants in the garden bed, you can try hitting it with glyphosate , a nonselective herbicide and then hand dig the plants that the chemical does not kill.
    If it is mixed in with other plants; you can hand dig the Houttuynia. Again it will take some time to get all of the plants and their rhizomes. You could try painting the glyphosate on the Houttuynia with a small foam paint brush. By doing this you would be less likely to apply the chemical on the desired plants.

    Was this answer useful?
    10
1 2

Do you know a lot about gardening?
Become a GKH Gardening Expert

OK