Houttuynia cordata ‘Flame’

Harlequin Plant

£4.50

Description

An easy to grow perennial with bright yellow, orange and red variegated heart shaped leaves producing a brilliant summer display.  In spring tiny yellow flowers surrounded by white bracts are produced. Provides an excellent ground cover.

Grows well on any soil in full sun or partial shade.

Height 30cm x Spread 30cm

 

Interesting Reading about Houttuynia

The ancient Chinese people were the first to discover the medicinal properties of this plant. This herb, when dried and brewed can be extremely effective for detoxification, hypertension, constipation, pulmonary tuberculosis, diuretics etc. Today the various healing properties of houttuynia cordata is gaining popularity in the western countries as well.

Houttuynia  cordata is an ancient Chinese herb known for its legendary medicinal powers. This perennial ground cover is mostly found in the mountainous areas of eastern Asia. The plant is also native to countries of Japan, Korea and southern China where it thrives in moist soil and shallow water areas with shade.

This herbaceous plant is recognized for its extra rampant and invasive growth accompanied by an indefinite spread. It can grow to height of up to 15 inches.

It is also serves culinary purposes in many countries of the world like Vietnam where it is consumed as a vegetable.

The ancient Chinese people were the first to discover the medicinal properties of this plant. This herb, when dried and brewed can be extremely effective for detoxification, hypertension, constipation, pulmonary tuberculosis, diuretics etc. Today the various healing properties of houttuynia cordata is gaining popularity in the western countries as well.

Houttuynia Cordata Medicinal Uses

The H. cordata injection used by the Chinese since ancient times has proved to provide relief from symptoms related with abnormal lungs as well as various infectious diseases. In fact this injection can counteract cancerous pleural effusion and refractory hemoptysis as well. It also has an instantaneous repressing action against Pseudorabies herpes virus.

The popular Japanese beverage ‘dokudami cha’ or Houttuynia cordata tea is known to be very effective in chronic earaches. This ‘poison blocking herb’ is known for its miraculous properties since a long time ago. In China the herb is referred to as the ‘fishy smell herb’ owing to the foul fishy smell the leaves emit when pressed hard. The Vietnamese call it ‘fish-mint’ for similar reasons.

The legendary healing powers of this medicinal herb has earned it the name ‘dokudami’, as ‘doku’ actually means poison and the word ‘dami’ implies to block the poison or stop it from spreading. This herb will continue detoxification even while the patient is sleeping accumulating the toxins discharged by the body.

Houttuynia Cordata Culinary Uses

The Vietnamese use Houttuynia Cordata as a leaf vegetable to garnish dishes. The fishy taste and aroma of the herb have caused people to enjoy it as a mint or basil in many parts of the world.

In several southwestern provinces of China like Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnah, the roots of this plant is consumed as a root vegetable.

The leaves of the plant is loved and relished in pakoras and salads in places like Manipur.

And Now a Recipe

Here is a simple recipe for a popular Chinese salad which used the leaves of Houttuynia Cordata.

Ingredients
200 grams Houttuynia Cordata leaves
1 tsp finely chopped garlic
1/2 tsp crushed ginger
1 tsp chopped spring onion

Salad dressing
3-4 sliced dried chilies
1 tbsp Soy sauce
1 tbsp Black vinegar
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Directions
1. Soak the Houttuynia Cordata leaves in water for 10 minutes, wash, drain and set aside.
2. Put the dried chilies in a saucepan and heat with 3 tbsp of cooking oil until the oil is infused and set aside.
3. Put the dressing ingredients in a bowl and mix together well.
4. Place the Houttuynia Cordata leaves in a salad bowl, add the salad dressing and stir until all the leaves are covered, serve.