Chameleon-plant

Houttuynia cordata

Found in roadsides, fields and disturbed ground; forests and woodlands. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 6–20 inches
Spread: 1–10 feet
Light: Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Moist to standing water

See native alternatives

Houttuynia cordata — flower photograph — Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original photograph

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: May to July

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Recorded in 1 Florida county.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement.

Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Habitats

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground; forests and woodlands.

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there. All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

—CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Saururaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–10b
Flower color: Green or white

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to July” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Green or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “6–20 inches” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Frequent standing water; Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “1–10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Chameleon Plant; Chinese Lizards Tail; Fish Mint

Conservation status

Florida rank	Not available
Global rank	GNR
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source