Plant Details

Houttuynia cordata

Chameleon

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Common names

31 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chameleon
  • Chameleon Plant[2]
  • Chameleon-flower[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • Fish mint[2]
  • Fish-plant[2]
  • Fishwort[2]
  • Fishy-smell herb[2]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Doku-dami
  • Moerasanemoon
French
  • Caméléon
  • Poivrier de Chine[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Chinese (Traditional)
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Czech
  • touleň srdčitá[2]
Danish
  • kamæleonblad[2]
Finnish
  • viherkameleonttilehti[2]
German
  • Molchschwanz[2]
Japanese
  • ドクダミ[2]
Javanese
  • Amis-amisan[2]
Korean
Polish
  • pstrolistka sercowata[2]
Russian
  • Хауттюния сердцелистная[2]
Slovak
  • chameleónka srdcovitá[2]
Swedish
Thai
  • ผักคาวตอง[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Houttuynia cordata Thunb. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Chameleon-flower (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 165936; taxon 3MR6R.
[2] Houttuynia cordata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Chameleon Plant — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 魚腥草 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 蕺菜 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Fishwort — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Fishy-smell herb — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • ドクダミ — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 臭腥草 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 九節蓮 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • touleň srdčitá — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Molchschwanz — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • ödleblad — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 蕺菜 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 鱼腥草 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 折耳根 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 약모밀 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • kamæleonblad — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Хауттюния сердцелистная — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • pstrolistka sercowata — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • ผักคาวตอง — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • 岑草 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • viherkameleonttilehti — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Amis-amisan — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Fish-plant — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Poivrier de Chine — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • chameleónka srdcovitá — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.
  • Fish mint — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 157642; Houttuynia cordata.

General information

Scientific name: Houttuynia cordata
Accepted name (Kew): Houttuynia cordata Thunb. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Saururaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Houttuynia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Chameleon
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Aquatic
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.15–0.51 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Creeping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Frequent Standing Water, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral
Light:
Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
medicinaal
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Fragrant, Ground cover

Description

Young shoots and leaves of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are best harvested in the spring when they are about 8 cm long. They have a distinctive scent and can be used as a flavoring in salads. The root of the plant is suitable for cooking and also has a noticeable scent, similar to that of the shoots and leaves. The fruit contains numerous small seeds.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1224491; name ID 385531; Houttuynia Thunb.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1224494; name ID 385534; Houttuynia cordata Thunb..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Houttuynia cordata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 392965, ID 3MR6R: Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Houttuynia cordata — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .