Is mondo grass an evergreen?
Mondo grass, also known as monkey grass (Ophiopogon japonicus), is an evergreen, sod-forming perennial.
Are all Mondo plants black?
Not all forms of mondo plant are black! There are cultivars which are much lighter in color. While they too darken in the sun’s warmth, their edges can stay off-white. The centers of the leaves remain a dark green hue. Lighter plants are often called lilyturf, a name often used for Liriope species as well.
Is black mondo grass in South Carolina?
Black mondo grass ( Ophiopogon planiscapus) is an interesting introduction from England. The dark purple leaves appear almost black. The plants are about 6 inches tall. In South Carolina, black mondo grass should be planted in partial shade.
Is mondo grass evergreen?
Mondo grass is not a true grass but rather a relative of the lily. The species has a tuberous root system and horizontal stems called stolons that allow the plant to expand beneath the soil. This results in clumping above the surface. Mondo grass is evergreen year-round in warm climates.
Does black mondo grass revert to green?
This evergreen groundcover spreads slowly and has some daughter plants that revert to green. Plant in fertile, moist, slightly acidic well-drained soils in the part sun to part shade. It prefers a consistently moist environment. Use in borders, as edging, a groundcover or along stream and pond edges.
Does mondo grass stay green all winter?
As the grass grows, it has a light green color that fades to black as the growing season progresses. This variety of mondo grass is resilient to the cold and will last through the winter without any issues. Short, dark green foliage, tiny, white flowers turn to blue berries in fall, spreads by stolons.
Do you cut back black mondo grass?
Mondo Grass does not require pruning though you can give it an annual pruning or mowing in late winter, before new spring growth begins to emerge.
Why did my black mondo grass turn green?
Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) that becomes discolored or grows poorly might be suffering from root rot. This dark green, grassy perennial grows best in moist, freely draining soil. Poor drainage and overwatering cause root rot, and slugs and snails can also attack mondo grass, causing wilting.
Does black mondo grass spread?
It grows as neat, slowly spreading, 4" tufts of ¼" wide, sweetly fragrant, straplike leaves. New foliage emerges dark green in spring then changes to dark purplish-black by summer. Black Mondo grows to about 10" tall, and will slowly spread to about two feet.
Is black mondo grass year round?
The benefits of planting mondo grass are that it's low-maintenance, grows in the shade, doesn't take over gardens, and stays green all year long.
How do you keep black mondo grass black?
Water regularly to maintain evenly moist soil - weekly, or more often. Thrives in humus-rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils. Takes cool sun; needs bright shade in hot climates. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system.
Is black mondo grass a perennial?
Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') isn't a true grass; true grasses belong to the Poaceae family. Black mondo grass is, instead, a tuberous-rooted perennial in the lily family. It's a stemless plant on which the leaves sprout from the ground in clumps.
What plants look good with black mondo grass?
Companions: Plant with ferns, impatiens, liriope, and begonia; black mondo grass is especially showy next to light colored foliage like Acorus gramineus 'Ogon', blue fescue, and lime or bronze heuchera.
Is mondo grass Hardy?
Benefits of Growing Mondo Grass Mondo Grass is a hardy plant and requires low care. They look amazing when planted en masse as a ground cover and to fill in gapes in and around pathways. They also look good when planted under trees, in front of borders as edging plants and grown in pots.
How fast does mondo grass spread?
Standard mondo grass reaches a mature spread up to 1 foot wide within a year or two, but dwarf mondo grass needs two to three years under ideal conditions to reach its spread of 3 to 4 inches.
What zone do black moondos grow in?
A grass like plant that thrives in planting Zones 5 - 9. A great container plant when combined with other brightly colored perennials.
What is the color of the black moondo?
An evergreen ground cover, the Black Mondo features black to dark purple leaves, with bell-shaped, pale lavender flowers in summer. New leaves on emerge green, but soon turn black.
What is a grass like plant?
A grass like plant that thrives in planting Zones 5 - 9. A great container plant when combined with other brightly colored perennials. Growing Tips: Black Mondo Grass is a grass-like plant. Evergreen grasses are usually plants that look like grasses but aren't actual grasses. They are generally called grass-like plants.
How tall is black mondo grass?
The plants are about 6 inches tall. In South Carolina, black mondo grass should be planted in partial shade. Cultivars ‘Nigrescens’ and ‘Ebony Knight’ do not differ very much. O. jaburan is coarser than O. japonicus, with light purple to white flowers.
What is mondo grass used for?
Landscape Use. Mondo grass is primarily used as groundcover. It is also attractive as a border along paths, between stepping stones or flowerbed and lawn, or in rock gardens. It grows well along streams and around garden ponds. Mondo grass competes well with the roots of other plants.
What is monkey grass?
Mondo grass, also known as monkey grass ( Ophiopogon japonicus ), is an evergreen, sod-forming perennial. The scientific name is derived from ophis = snake, and pogon = beard, most probably referring to the flower spike.
Can oleander scale be found in mondo grass?
False oleander scale may infest and damage mondo grass. This armored scale is best controlled by late winter shearing and disposal of the trimmed foliage. Additionally, sprays with a 2% solution of horticultural oil can aid in control of these armored scales.
Does moondo grass grow in the shade?
Mondo grass grows well in ordinary garden soil, requiring minimum attention once established. Plants thrive in filtered sun to full shade and prefer moist soil. The foliage is usually light green when plants are grown in filtered sun. Plants growing in the shade have dark green leaves.
Is mondo grass the same as liriope?
Mondo grass is quite often confused with liriope ( Liriope muscari ). However, the leaves of mondo grass are more narrow than those of liriope, the smaller flowers are hidden by the leaves, the fruits are blue compared to the black fruits of liriope and mondo grass is less cold hardy.
When does mondo grass bloom?
Typically, mondo grass blooms in the summer; its short spikes of pale pink or white blooms appear just above (or sometimes in) the foliage of the plants. After the blooms fade, you may also see glossy dark purple to almost black berries.
How does mondo grass spread?
The plants are very slow-growing and spread by stolons, or horizontal stems that are just below the soil surface. Mondo grass also has tuberous roots that allows it to store water and nutrients. This makes it easy to divide plants and establish new plantings.
What is the best grass for shade?
Mondo Grass. An easy-to-grow, attractive groundcover, mondo grass is especially useful as a turf alternative in shade gardens. Its grass-like foliage forms dense tufts that slowly spread over time and require no mowing.
Can you grow mondo grass under trees?
With something as low maintenance as mondo grass, you can have the look of a lawn in shady spots, no mowing required! Mondo grass has no problem growing under large tree canopies, even between gnarled roots and rocks.
Is mondo grass good for containers?
However, because of its slow growth rate and small size, mondo grass is an ideal plant for containers . Especially with the popularity of fairy gardens and miniature gardens in general, mondo grass is perfectly suited for these situations and pairs well with many other plants.
Is mondo grass green?
When it comes to light exposure, mondo grass is not too picky. The most common green varieties can take pretty much anything from full sun to full shade. Leaf coloring may vary slightly depending on the exposure, including light green to deep emerald. Full sun is essential for the deep black-leaved varieties. The more shade, the more green the black will become.
Can mondo grass grow in shade?
Mondo grass has no problem growing under large tree canopies, even between gnarled roots and rocks. However, if you are planting black foliage varieties of mondo, they will need some sun or the plants will be mostly green in full shade. In the densest shade, you might not see many blooms.
How to spread black mondo?
While black mondo will spread, its spread is very slow. It’s much easier to divide off new plants in the spring. Remove a large clump of mondo from the soil, being careful to not harm its fibrous root system. Dust off excess soil. Using your hands, separate off smaller clumps, each with their own roots and leaves.
What is monkey grass?
It provides year-round color in those zones. Called monkey grass in the southern US, this plant also produces flowers on a long, slender raceme in fall. Its native origins are in Japan, but it’s traveled around the globe.
What is the best creepy ground cover for a goth garden?
Black mondo grass is the ideal creepy ground cover. But it also looks amazing even outside of a goth’s garden! Also known as Ophiopogon planiscapus, this drought-tolerant plant isn’t technically a grass. It’s part of the same plant family as asparagus, in fact. Hovering within eight inches of the ground, it can form a darker contrast ...
Why are my mondo leaves turning brown?
Root rot can cause yellowing and browning of mondo leaves. Source: happy via
Is asparagus a Halloween plant?
Hovering within eight inches of the ground, it can form a darker contrast to a bright floral display. For dramatic flair, it can’t be beat. It’s not just a plant for Halloween anymore. This ghoulish garden-dweller can also be a glorious bedding plant.
Is a mondo plant black?
Not all forms of mondo plant are black! There are cultivars which are much lighter in color. While they too darken in the sun’s warmth, their edges can stay off-white. The centers of the leaves remain a dark green hue. Lighter plants are often called lilyturf, a name often used for Liriope species as well.
What is mondo grass?
Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Printer Friendly Version. Image by vblinov. Mondo grass is also known as monkey grass. It is an evergreen perennial that makes a great groundcover or standalone grass-like plant. These plants perform well in almost any soil and lighting condition.
How big does mondo grass grow?
Imagine great grassy tussocks shrunk down to fairyland size, and you can envision mondo grass. These small plants grow only 6 to 10 inches tall (15-25 cm.) and have a clumping or mounding nature depending upon variety. Ophiopogon japonicus is the scientific name and refers to the plant’s native region of Asia.
What is a good sod alternative?
As a lawn substitute in shady to partially sunny locations, it is a great sod alternative that never needs mowing. Mondo grass spreads by stolons, or underground stems, and can slowly form dense colonies. Leaves are ½ inch wide (1 cm.) and glossy green or even variegated.
Is mondo grass a problem?
Any mondo grass information should list its pest and disease issues. Snails and slugs may be a problem, as can scale. Disease issues are fungal and form during wet, warm periods. Serious damage by any of these is unlikely.
Can mondo grass be divided?
These plants perform well in almost any soil and lighting condition. Mondo grass is a slow growing plant that can be easily propagated by division and requires minimal care once established. A truly attractive and outstanding landscape plant with a multitude of uses, it is well worth the gardener’s time to learn how to grow mondo grass.
Is it easy to grow mondo grass?
Growing mondo grass is easy, as the plant withstands neglect in regions where plentiful moisture is naturally available. Once established, you can pretty much forget about the plant unless you want to go check out its seasonal beauty, or it is time to divide it.