Houttuynia Cordata

Houttuynia Cordata - This small genus contains only three species. They are beautiful as well as graceful plants, and are the only hardy representatives of the natural order Piperaceae. All of them are well suited for the bog garden, where, in a peaty soil, they have quite a tropical appearance. The spathe bracts resemble a corolla, and consist of four large pure white spreading leaves from the base of the spadix or cone of flowers. Thunberg first found this plant in Japan, growing in great abundance in ditches by the wayside.