Houttuynia - am I going to regret it?

[Geneticsbunny]

Hello. I am planning some planting for my new formal pond/rill and am thinking about pairing some dark purple iris ensata with some Houttuynia chameleon to flow over the edge of the pond but I have spotted that the Houttuynia is considered invasive. Is planting it the worst idea ever? The bed is relatively isolated by paths and hedges and the pond. If so can anyone suggest something similar? It will be in partial shade and we are on acid clay so the soil around the pond is pretty boggy.

I’ve had it around ponds and it has never spread, but the rest of the ground was’t soggy, it was in a very dry climate.

Beautiful plant, I always wished it would spread.

Well, it can be very invasive. Whether it would in your conditions you won’t know unless you plant it. I had some many years ago in my front garden, and it became a nuisance, able to pop up between paving and gaps in the path, so I can only go by my experience.

@NanTheWiser did you manage to control it/ get rid of it when it started misbehaving?

Don’t do it!!!!!!! It’s horrendous stuff

@Geneticsbunny, due to difficulties in looking after the front garden (I also had rampant marestail weeds growing through everything), I eventually had the front garden block paved. Problem solved!

I spent 2/ 3 years and hours of digging trying to get rid of it, it infiltrated the lawn / went for metres. It’s rhizomes are v aggressive It stinks and I absolutely hated it. Moved house in the end

@NanTheWiser block paving eh! Serious then.
@Greycatwhitepaws that is awful!
@CatherinedeBourgh not in the UK then?

I am not a gardener, but wish I could be, so my suggestion is probably going to a be stupid one: I wondered if it would be possible to bury a largish ceramic pot (one that can stand steep changes in temperature, and whether it would be best being porous or not I am afraid I don't know) in a hole by the pond? Unfortunately not knowing the nature of plants, and particularly the 'let's smother and strangle everything else in the garden type' of plant, I don't know if it would just climb some of it's roots over the top of the pot and be away on it's murderous campaign!

@Geneticsbunny, and I forgot to mention that my NDN has some in their front garden, that has managed to find its way under the boundary brick wall, and is popping up in the pavement…

No, not the UK. The med.

Would a variegated ajuga do instead?

@TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek the pot idea is not bad but given the horror stories I am not sure I trust myself to keep tabs on it.

@senua variegated ajuga is not a bad idea. Does anyone else have any suggestions? That border nearby is pale pinks and purples with a pink rose, some thalictrum and some dead nettles nearby.