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Houttuynia cordata

heart-leaved houttuynia

RHS Plant Shop from £8.99 Sold by 9 nurseries

  • Other common names heart-leaved houttuynia

  • Family Saururaceae

  • Genus Houttuynia are rhizomatous perennials with pungently orange-scented, heart-shaped leaves and tiny yellow flowers in spikes with usually 4 prominent white bracts at the base

  • Details H. cordata is a wide-spreading herbaceous perennial to 30cm in height, with dull blue-green leaves and dense flower spikes in late spring

  • Plant range E Himalaya to Japan

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Clump-forming

  • Fragrance Foliage

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained

  • SoilClay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Tolerant of a range of soils from dry to wet in sun or shade. Can be prone to spreading, especially in wet soils, by underground stems; ideal for containers where its spread can be restricted

Propagation Propagate by seed or division in spring or take semi-ripe cuttings of young basal shoots

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds Garden Edging Low Maintenance Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

Pruning Divide regularly to limit spread

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

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RHS Plants Shop

Houttuynia cordata

heart-leaved houttuynia

Buy from £8.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £8.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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