A colourful groundcover for moist soils. Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: reliably moist or boggy soil, or aquatic compost Depth of water: 0-10cm Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: April Hardiness: fully hardy Less vigorous than the species, 'Chameleonmakes excellent ground cover at the margins of a pond - or in reliably moist (and boggy) soils in the border. Spreading to form a generous swathe, its ovate to heart-shaped leaves are variously patterned in shades of green, pale yellow and red. These add a bright splash of colour, and if bruised will emit an orange-like aroma. In spring, the flowerheads appear, and these are composed of a small, densely packed spike of tiny yellowish green flowers, which is encased at its base with a ruff of petal-like bracts that turn from green to white as they age. Garden care: Tolerant of most reliably moist soils, and less vigorous than the species, you can limit the spread of this plant by potting it into a pond basket. Divide over-large clumps in spring. If using as a shallow-water marginal, clean any dropped flowers and foliage from the pond to maintain healthy water quality.
