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Fishwort

About Fishwort

Chameleon Plant is an aggressive groundcover with a creeping habit that spreads by rhizomes. It grows one to two feet in height and can spread along the ground as it grows. It is very shade tolerant but not drought-tolerant. It prefers moist soil to shallow water (1-2 in)

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Houttuynia cordata

Genus

Houttuynia

Family

Saururaceae

Order

Piperales

Also known as

Fish mint, Fish leaf, Rainbow plant, Chameleon plant, Heart leaf, Fish wort, Chinese lizard tail and Bishop's weed

How to care for Fishwort

💦 Water

How often to water your Fishwort

Fishwort needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Fishwort in your home

Fishwort love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Fishwort does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Fishwort in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Fishwort

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Fishwort: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Fishwort after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Fishwort

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Fishwort can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Fishwort →

Common Fishwort Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Fishwort prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Fishwort Water Frequency →

Fishwort Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Fishwort requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Fishwort Light Requirements →

Fishwort Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Fishwort is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Fishwort Edible? →

Fishwort Toxicity to Cats →

Fishwort Toxicity to Dogs →

Fishwort Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Fishwort does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Fishwort →

When and How to Successfully Repot Fishwort →

What Are Healthy Fishwort Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Fishwort is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Fishwort →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Fishwort grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Fishwort Lifecycle →

Fishwort Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Fishwort →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Fishwort can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Fishwort Temperature Tolerance →

Fishwort Hardiness Zones →

Is Fishwort a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Fishwort can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Fishwort →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Fishwort, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.