Plant Lust
ShopOrderSellblog
0

  • Plant types

  • Plant styles

  • Planting conditions

  • Seasonal interest

  • Nurseries & Gardens

    • Photo of Ophiopogon japonicus fruit by Kenpei

    Photo by Kenpei

    Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

    Show all photos

    Ophiopogon japonicus

    Also Known As

    • Mondo Grass

    Plant type

    perennial, groundcover, grass / grass like

    size

    • H: 12"
    • W: 12"

    planting zones

    • 7a-10b

    More Options

    Ophiopogon japonicus plant details

    Ophiopogon japonicus is an evergreen perennial groundcover grass (or grassy in appearance) with green foliage. In fall lavender flowers emerge followed by blue fruit. Features grassy texture. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and even moisture water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Ophiopogon japonicus

    Plant type: perennial groundcover grass (or grassy in appearance)
    Plant family: asparagaceae, liliaceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 12 IN wide, 12 IN tall
    Flowers: lavender blooms in fall
    Uses: container plant, easy-to-grow, edging plant, lawn alternative, pathway, rock garden, unique, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Ophiopogon japonicus

    USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
    Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture
    Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat, humidity and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: average and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Ophiopogon japonicus, or Mondo Grass, features compact mounds of dark green, grass-like evergreen leaves. Tiny spikes of lilac flowers. Very easy to grow. Deer resistant. Ornamental Grasses are low maintenance and grow well in most soil types. They look beautiful, adding color, height, and movement to your garden. an excellent companion plant with contrasting foliage.

    By: Little Prince of Oregon

    Fast growing evergreen grass for groundcover. Dark green color. Finer and smaller growing than the similar Liriope. 6-10" tall. Spreads rapidly. Recommended by: USNA.

    By: Fantastic Plants

    From the Greek Ophis (Snake) and Pogon (Beard). A close botanical relative to Liriope and very similar in most aspects and applications. Generally is more of a shade lover and less tolerant of full, hot sun (morning sun ok). Mondo and Dwarf Mondo are often used as far North as Zone 5 even though their cold hardiness rating is zone 6 or 7. These installations are successful when a microclimate is created in the landscape by planting in a protected area: a shady enclosed garden or courtyard surrounded by other plants and shrubs. Native to Southeast Asia.

    By: Tidwell Nurseries

    Gardening facts about Ophiopogon japonicus plant

    How to Grow Ophiopogon japonicus

    • Sun Exposure

      • mostly sun - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - drought tolerant

    • Soil Needs

      • average
      • well-drained

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • humidity tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • lavender

    • Wildlife

      • deer resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Fruit

      • blue

    • Flower Season

      • fall

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • grassy

    See other plant types of Ophiopogon for your garden

    Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu'

    aka Ophiopogon 'Black Dragon', Ophiopogon nigrescens, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Arabicus', Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Ebknizam', Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Ebony Knight', Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Niger', Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens', Ophiopogon planiscapus Ebony Knight®, Arabicus Black Mondo Grass, Arabicus Black Mondo Grass, Black Dragon Mondo Grass, Black Mondo Grass, Black Mondo Grass, Ebony Knight Black Mondo Grass

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Groundcover, Grass / Grass Like

    Zones

    6a-10b

    Size

    Height: 6"-8"

    Width: 12"-36"

    • sun - shade
    • even moisture - drought tolerant
    Photo of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu' flower, foliage by Little Prince of Oregon
    View Plant

    Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanus'

    aka Ophiopogon japonica 'Nana', Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana', Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanum', Dwarf Mondo Grass, Dwarf Mondo Grass ~ Green

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Groundcover, Grass / Grass Like

    Zones

    7a-10a

    Size

    Height: 2"-8"

    Width: 6"-20"

    • sun - shade
    • even moisture - drought tolerant
    Photo of Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanus' foliage by plant lust
    View Plant

    Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Haku Ryu Ko'

    aka Ophiopogon 'Haku ryu Ko', Ophiopogon japonicus 'Pamela Harper', Pamela Harper Variegated Mondo Grass, White Dragon Light Mondo Grass

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Groundcover, Grass / Grass Like

    Zones

    6a-9b

    Size

    Height: 6"-9"

    Width: 6"-10"

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - drought tolerant
    Photo of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Haku Ryu Ko' foliage by Avant Gardens
    View Plant

    Ophiopogon japonicus 'Kigimafukiduma'

    aka Ophiopogon japonicus 'Albo-striatus', Ophiopogon japonicus 'Aritake', Ophiopogon japonicus 'Aritaki', Ophiopogon japonicus 'Silver Mist', Ophiopogon japonicus 'Variegata', Silver Mondo Grass, Variegata Silver Mist Mondo Grass

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Groundcover, Grass / Grass Like

    Zones

    6a-10b

    Size

    Height: 12"-15"

    Width: 15"-36"

    • sun - shade
    • occasional - drought tolerant
    Photo of Ophiopogon japonicus 'Kigimafukiduma' foliage by Little Prince of Oregon
    View Plant

    More Options

    Ophiopogon japonicus 'Gyoku Ryu'

    aka Ophiopogon japonicus 'Gyoku-ryu', Dwarf Mondo Grass

    Plant Type

    Groundcover, Grass / Grass Like

    Zones

    5a-10b

    Size

    Height: 2"-3"

    Width: 8"-12"

    • mostly sun - shade
    • even moisture - drought tolerant
    Photo of Ophiopogon japonicus 'Gyoku Ryu' foliage by Karl Gercens III
    View Plant

    More Options

    +38 more Ophiopogon
    Mailing List
    Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

    © 2010—2026 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved