vinegar is an organic herbicide. Apply full strength. It kills vegetation good and bad so care is needed.

Anyway, I am not a fan of vinegar as an herbicide.

I assume you are refering to Houttuynia cordata when you say Chameleon plant. Beautiful plant, when containerized. I was thinking of adding some to a small water garden in a pot. Maybe I could get you to send me some ;-)

Anyway, this is one of those devilish plants that spreads via underground runners. Miss a bit and back it grows.

Is there an organic way to control it other than digging? Nope. Vinegar can burn the foliage, but won't touch the underground roots.

Even commercial, chemical herbicides may require repeat applications due to the extensive root system.

This is a case where an ounce of prevention would have been worth more than a ton of cure. But, no worries, stuff happens. Every once in a while things just explode ;-)

Make a decision. Commit to digging and pulling or use a chemical herbicide. If you go the latter route one of the most effective ways to kill a plant with aggressive roots is by using RoundUp in a spill proof container with the plant material dipped into the toxin until you see the plant die (couple weeks). Not just the plant dipped into the RU, but the rest of the plant connected to those roots.

This approach, while certainly not organic, limits the use of the herbicide to the plant in question, doesn't get any on the soil, poses no run off or groundwater contamination issues and is about as environmentally friendly a way to use RU as it gets.

thank you very much (and i have noticed it grows in water). i do believe that is the name. i couldn't think of it at the time. i had gotten a piece from my sister and from there it went!

i will have to seriously consider your suggestion. i had a feeling that might be my only choice. and thanks for the application tip!

though i dread contributing to the delinquency of this plant, you seem to have thought this out well. it isn't like has been off the market, either. feel free to look at my trade list, or even have a piece just for the help.

I haven't battled this plant, but I have controlled bindweed and bermuda grass using cardboard (or newspaper) plus several inches of mulch (4-8 inches). A colleague who attended the agroecology program at Santa Cruz has also seen this method work for controlling comfrey! which is usually characterized as being unkillable. Another colleague says it's common sense that if you prevent plants from photosynthesizing (by either covering them up or pulling whenever you see the slightest bit of green poking through), eventually you will wear out the stored energy and exhaust the roots.

Try solarizing! I have been doing it for several years. We have 2 1/2 acres, and I usually solarize the perimeters of garden areas to prevent bermuda grass, etc. from creeping in. I am more and more enthused about this method of dealing with weedy areas. It not only kills weeds and harmful organisms, but the beneficial organisms don't mind it.

I have written 2 blogs on Solarizing this week.

Visit me at: http://fatfreeorganicgardening.blogspot.com/
and read:
Solarizing and Vinegar--organic weed control &
Solarizing: the sequel

hg- that is exactly how i have started a new flower bed to block the grass. i planted, laid out newspaper or cardboard around the plants, then mulched heavily with hardwood mulch. unfortunately, in the area of concern, i have scattered some seed that will also succumb if i do this here. thank you so much for the suggestion. actually, i didn't even think about it and gave myself a great big "duh." then, i remembered my seeds.

rahma, ihave never heard of solarizing, or the term anyway. thanks for the links! off to check them out...

Propane Torch. (For impatient gardeners, like me.)

i have always wanted one! but not the expense :(

try using a hoe

well, i wish it were that simple. the slightest missed piece of root-which goes all over btw- grows another plant. thanks for the advice!

a shovel and an sifter will help to.