| MONDO AT A GLANCE COMMON
NAME: Mondo grass
SPECIES: Ophiopogon (o-fi-o-po'gon, Greek for snake's beard) japonicus (ja-pon'i-kus,
from Japan).
SIZE: 6-10 inches tall, spreads
DESCRIPTION: Stemless clumps quickly spread to form fine grasslike covering. Dark green
foliage, pale purple to white flower, blue fruit.
CULTURE: Sun or shade. Good-draining, medium-rich soil. Add humus to improve soil.
Medium moisture; resists drought.
VARIETIES: Nana, Nanus or Nippon, compact, slow-growing, 4-5 inches high. Nigrescens or
Ebony Knight, dark purple-black foliage, striking accent plants if too expensive for
ground cover. Also, some variegated foliage varieties
USES: Ground cover for small or large areas; excellent under trees where turf won't
grow
Sources: Landscape Plants of the Southeast, Sunset's Ground Covers |
