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Houttuynia cordata
lesley 15
Posts: 4
I have houttuynia cordata in my garden but it is really taking over. I have looked on other sites and the general advice is to dig. I have been doing that and I am sure I am now half way to Australia but I am still finding roots. Also, when digging the roots out the HC roots are intertwined with other plants so I am loosing plants as well. The problem area is about 4 metres by 3 metres. Please can anyone help?
Lesley
0
Posts
a salutary lesson there lesley.
I know lots will disagree, but I'd wait until growth starts in Spring then use roundup on it.
Hi thanks for your response. I have tried roundup and it had about the same effect as if I had offered a glass of wine! LOL
I'd persevere lesley, you've seen what the root system is like. You'll be there forever trying to tease them all out.
Thank you for your comments I will give it a try.
Hi Lesley - Many years ago I lived in a terraced town house with a small walled garden. The previous owners had built a bed alongside the wall, it was about three bricks high, almost two feet wide and ran the whole length of the garden path. It was full of lovely established perennials and dwarf shrubs. I in my ignorance , added two specimens of this 'very pretty' plant - one either end. Before I knew where I was, it was popping up all over the bed. I dug out every bit I could see, thought I'd solved the problem, and before long, up it popped again. I was continually at it, and then a gardener acquaintance told me that only the tiniest bit needs to be left in the soil for it to re-grow. I just could not get rid of it, it was regenerating faster than Dr. Who!
To cut a long story short, we completely emptied the bed (which thankfully was acting like a large container) all the earth had to be put in bags and carried through the house. We dug down well over a foot and then refilled the bed with fresh growing medium and new plants. I couldn't even save the existing plants in case bits of root were entwined their roots. I learned a hard lesson - research before you plant. My advice would be to keep digging, I'm sure if you persevere you'll be successful in the end. Good luck, and believe me, I feel your pain.
My sister admired a plant I had when she visited a while ago. It was Heucherella 'Alabama Sunrise'. She was revamping a border and decided it would be nice in there.
Couple of weeks ago she informed me she'd bought 'that nice plant in your garden - you know - the one with the coloured foliage'.
I couldn't recall, then she said 'it starts with H - ehmm - oh yes, it's Houttuynia'....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Please Fairygirl, tell me that you enlightened your poor sister, otherwise you won't go to heaven.
Talking of heaven I was hoping that someone would have a miracle cure for me! No such luck by the look of it. Oh well digging and round-up it will have to be. On the bright side it keeps me out of mischief. It is just so demoralising when you work hard on your garden but however hard you try this "plant" keeps taking over. Thanks to everyone for your help.