Is Houttuynia invasive?
This plant is highly invasive! It thrives in moist, partial sunny areas. Seems to be less aggressive in dry full sun areas.
What is chameleon plant used for?
Pneumonia treatment Houttuynia cordata can be used for treating pneumonia, abnormal lung symptoms and SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome). 7. Treatment of infectious diseases It can be used for treating infectious diseases due to its anti-viral and antibacterial properties.
Why is the chameleon plant called a chameleon?
The scientific plant name is in honour of Maarten Houttuyn (1720 – 1798), a Dutch biologist. The name lizard tail (properly referring to a closely related genus, Saururia) is motivated by the acute shape of the leaves in both Saururia and Houttuynia.
How do you eat a chameleon plant?
Leaves, stems and rhizomes of Houttuynia cordata are widely used in many tradicional cousines of south-east Asia, both fresh and cooked. It is used as an aromatic vegetable/spice and is added to salads, soups, stews, fish meals, curry dishes and stir-fries. Leaves can be fried in batter as a kind of Pakora.
Is chameleon plant good for health?
Among the important pharmacological activities reported includes, anti-mutagenic, anti-cancer, adjuvanticity, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, anti-microbial, anti-allergic, anti-leukemic, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps activities.
How do I get rid of Houttuynia in my garden?
Although very attractive, Houttuynia cordata can be a real problem due to its aggressive nature. 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.
Can you eat chameleon plant?
All parts of this plant are edible and can be harvested all year round (in cold winters you can gather only rhizomes). Leaves, stems and rhizomes of Houttuynia cordata are widely used in many tradicional cousines of south-east Asia, both fresh and cooked.