Houttuynia cordata - Tsi

Family:	Saururaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	1
Synonyms:	Gymnotheca chinensis. Polypara cochinchinensis.
Range:	E. Asia - China, Japan, Himalayas.

Houttuynia cordata (Tsi) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 1m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 5and is quite resiliant to frost.
Tsi will flower in December. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Tsi will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Tsi prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Tsi can grow in full or semi shaded areas.

Shrubberies and damp places to 2400m in the Himalayas[51]. Often found as a weed in wet fields[187].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds
• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist to wet soil or shallow water, partial shade and a sheltered position[1, 31, 56, 238]. Whilst it grows best in a bog garden, it will succeed in moist garden borders[233] and has also grown fairly well in a dry soil in Cornwall[K]. It succeeds in full shade[208]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[187], the top growth is killed back by frost though the roots are much hardier. Even the roots, though, can be killed in severe winters[56]. A very ornamental plant, there are some named varieties[187]. 'Chameleon' has very attractively variegated leaves with the same flavour as the species[K]. The bruised leaves emit a strong citrus smell rather like orange peel[K]. Plants have a widely spreading root system and are very invasive, though they are easier to control in drier soils[200]. Creeps harmlessly between ferns[187]. Cultivated as a salad crop in Vietnam[103] and in W. China[187].. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. Plants growing in an area with a high rabbit population were not eaten by them although other plants growing nearby were attacked[K].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Teder young shoots and leaves - raw or cooked as a pot-herb[2, 61, 103, 183, 272]. The leaves and young shoots are harvested in the spring when about 8cm long[264]. Strongly aromatic according to one report[183] whilst others say that it is rather smelly and somewhat like rotten fish[105, 178]. Our experience is that the leaves have a delicious orange-like smell and make a marvellous flavouring in salads[K]. One report says that there are two distinct chemotypes of this species. Plants from Japan have an orange scent, whilst those from China have a smell resembling coriander leaves (Coriandrum sativum)[238]. Some people seem to really like this leaf, others are indifferent to it or strongly dislike it[K]. It also varies quite considerably according to the time of year. In the spring and summer it has a very acceptable flavour, but by autumn a distinct bitterness has crept in[K]. Root - cooked[177, 183]. Same comments on the smell as for the leaves[105]. Fruit[183]. No further details[K], but the fruit is a capsule that contains many small seeds[200].

• Fruit -
• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
The whole plant is antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antimicrbial, antiphlogistic, antiviral, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, laxative and ophthalmic[103, 116, 147, 174, 176, 218, 238, 240, 279]. A decoction is used internally in the treatment of many ailments including cancer, coughs, dysentery, enteritis and fever[218]. Its use is said to strengthen the immune system[176]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of snake bites and skin disorders[238]. The leaves and stems are harvested during the growing season and used fresh in decoctions[238]. The leaf juice is antidote and astringent[218]. A root extract is diuretic[218, 240]. The root is also said to be used in medicinal preparations for certain diseases of women[240, 243]. The rhizomes yield a sterol, resembling sitosterol, which stimulates the secretion of antibiotic substances from a gram-positive spore-forming bacillus[240]. An active substance, effective in the treatment of stomach ulcers, has been extracted from the plant[240].

• Antibacterial - Kills bacteria.
• Antidote - Counters poisoning.
• Antiinflammatory - Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
• Antiphlogistic - Reduces inflammation.
• Antiviral - Treats virus diseases
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Depurative - Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Hypoglycaemic - Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
• Laxative - Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
• Ophthalmic - Treats eye complaints.
• Women's complaints - A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[31, 56]. Very quick and easy, it can be done successfully at almost any time in the growing season[K]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Scented parts of the plants

Leaves : Crushed

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A good ground cover plant[200]. Plants do not form a weed-suppressing cover[K]. A spreading plant, it should be spaced about 45cm apart each way[208].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

'Chameleon' - A very ornamental form with attractively variegated leaves[K]. These leaves have the same flavour as the species[K]. In full sun red is the dominant colour, but in shady positions the leaves lose most of their redness and become green and yellow mainly[K]. A vigorous form, though less so than the species.
'Flore Plena' - A double-flowered form, it grows very vigorously and can succeed in drier soils than most cultivars[K].

References

Flowers of the Himalayas.
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A.
Author: Polunin. O. and Stainton. A.
Rating:
Publisher : A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses.
Date of Publication : 1984

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Flora of China

Author:
Rating: http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher : On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.
Date of Publication : 1994

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