Mondo grass

Looking for a handsome groundcover to enliven your landscape? Look no farther than Mondo grass, which has dense tufts of grassy foliage, often boldly striped, and spikes of flowers reminiscent of grape hyacinth. Mondo grass plants provides elegant edging; they can be grouped as accents or planted close together as a groundcover. Be alert for slug damage in damp areas. Provide moist, humus-rich soil that does not dry out.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

6-10

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

8-24 inches tall

Plant Width:

To 1 foot wide

Bloom Time:

Blooms early to late summer, depending on variety

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Cut Flowers,Tolerates Wet Soil,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

---

Black Mondo grass

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' has tufts of strappy dark purple leaves about 6 inches tall. Spikes of lilac-pink flowers resembling grape hyacinth rise on stiff stems in summer. Zone 6-11
view >

Dwarf Mondo grass

Ophiopogon japonicus grows to 1 foot tall with linear green leaves. Spikes of pale whitish-lilac flowers nestle among the foliage. This tough plant makes a fine edging. Zones 7-10
view >

Garden Plans

---

Bold Woodland Garden Plan
Pastel Retaining Wall Garden Plan

Plant It With

---

Loosestrife

The round bright yellow leaves of golden creeping Jenny are dramatic against the strappy almost-black leaves of black Mondo grass in sun or light shade.

Japanese painted fern

Japanese painted fern has fronds variegated with gray and different shades of pink-purple. When it's planted with black Mondo grass, each picks up color from the other to good effect.

Astilbe

In lightly shaded places, the dissected leaves and fluffy plumes of astilbe flowers complement Mondo grass. They enjoy similar conditions.

Propagation

---

Seed
Division