Brought this ground cover home from the local swap - it looked as if it had been run over by a truck or two, but it is perking up now. Anyone know what it is? and if I should let it loose in my yard?
Thanks

Maybe ?

Well, forget that ... as I look at more photo's I don't think Asarum is right.

Leaves look like Viola, but the stem is unusual.

Hope I am wrong, but it reminds me of field Bindweed, also called perennial morning glory- Convolvulus arvensis. It's a Morning glory's wild relative. If it is, It's very invasive and tough to get rid of once you have it.

https://www.google.com/search?...

Or perhaps it's one of the tamer Morning glories?

Hi Greene,
It looks like Houttuynia cordata to me.

@Danita,
Houttuynia (Houttuynia cordata) That's it, thanks!

I am researching now but so far have discovered it is one of the plants I like to call...
(deep breath)...
"It-may-cure-every-disease-in-the-known-world-but-this-plant-is-invasive-if-you-do-not-eat-it-fast-enough".

Will definitely not let this one loose in the garden, but with all the health benefits will grow this in a contained environment in an artificial bog set-up.
everyone for your answers.

Update: My friend Plant Sister says that she plants this as a 'snail magnet' to keep the snails off the more desirable plants.

I fought with Houttuynia cordata for many years and had to pot up daylilies to cover the ground with black plastic, for months, and had to use poison to kill it. I tried digging it out for many years - hopeless. I wouldn't plant it and would trash it ASAP. It's EVIL.

hmmm.. I have this plant in a small pot but now I'm re-thinking whether I should keep it or not.

@greene how is your plant doing? Is it taking over your garden, yard, the block?

The garden area I first planted it is still infested. Manageable, but kind of annoying to keep having to pull it up. Although I actually like the citrusy odor they give off when disturbed. On the other hand, I haven't managed to keep it alive when trying to grow it in a bog-like confined space. And I don't think I've seen it self-seed, just spread by roots. So it's probably fairly safe as long as you've got the roots 100% contained.

Biggest mistake I ever made , still trying to get rid of it. Just keep it potted. If you do keep it place in a sunny area as it can get some nice coloring and the soil needs to be kept moist.

I too found this very invasive. It stinks also. It also lost the pretty red varigation and streaks it had when I first planted it. Also it spreads like CRAZY. I nicknamed it Demon Weed follows you around, haunts your garden and you can't kill it!

Well there you go. I have no intention of 'letting this loose' in my garden by planting it in the ground. I have it it a pot of soil and the pot is in an old bread pan full of water. I change out the water every two days to fool the mosquitoes and refresh the soil from time to time. Managed to pick up an old aquarium and hope to propagate more plants so there will be enough to actually eat.

I just took some photos using the flash but will have to recharge the battery before uploading. I'll come back in a while with some photos.

This is the best photo I could get while stumbling around in the dark.

Thanks everyone. I definitely don't need to put this one in the ground and find out for myself!! It'll stay in a pot within a pot that doesn't have a hole in the bottom.

Wise move. The only way I managed to kill it was with Ortho's Poison Ivy and Tough Brush Killer* (undiluted) but that came only after many years of digging to no avail. They grow from the tiniest piece accidentally left in the earth.


*Do not spray with any tank sprayer or you can kill desirable plants. You could put some killer in a sandwich sized plastic bag and bend the stem into the bag so the killer won't bother any other plants but if it's too close to anything good, be sure to protect the good plants very well (boxes, plastic bags, etc.) or you'll regret it.

Lots of people try to get rid of this plant, but I'm trying to cultivate it😂 Smells nice when you brush against it, but has a fishy undertone if you crush the leaves... Mine does, anyway. Different growing conditions will cause that AND its color to vary. Has loads of medicinal uses if you're into that sort of thing. Diuretic, good for kidneys, acne, toxic blocker (whatever than means 😉) There's a huge list of things its used for in places like Japan, China, and Vietnam. I seem to have 2 colors, a pretty dark green w red edges and a pale green... The amount of light and soil is most likely the reason. Very hardy and I haven't had a problem w it being invasive, so I'm totally keeping it 😊

Good info, DustBunny!

I've kept my plant for the medicinal value. It's been growing in a small pot and hasn't spread anywhere else.