An attractive ground cover plant houttuynia cordata 39chameleon39 is a spreading herbaceous perennial with heart45shaped variegated leaves in green cream and bright pink in late spring houttuynia produces simple white flowers with prominent centres unfussy about soil conditions houttuynia is robust and easy to grow beneath shrubs on banks beside ponds or in patio containers where its vigorous spread can be restricted unusually the leaves are orange45scented when crushed he