Houttuynia cordata Thunberg

Houttuynia cordata

This herbaceous perennial in the Saururaceae from east Asia is occasionally planted in North Carolina. Difficult to control in a garden, it has invasive tendencies, though is not much of a problem in the state yet. The malodorous, fishy-smelling leaves are used in Vietnamese cuisine.

Durham, NC 5/26/2011.

Houttuynia cordata

Durham, NC 5/26/2011.

Houttuynia cordata

Durham, NC 5/26/2011.

Houttuynia cordata

Durham, NC 5/26/2011.

Houttuynia cordata

Durham, NC 5/26/2011.

Houttuynia cordata

Durham, NC 5/26/2011.

Houttuynia cordata

Durham, NC 5/26/2011.

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.