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    • Photo of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu' flower, foliage by Little Prince of Oregon

    Photo by Little Prince of Oregon

    Used with permission, all rights reserved.

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    Buy Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu'

    Also Known As

    • 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

    size

    • H: 6"-8"
    • W: 12"-36"

    planting zones

    • 6a-10b

    1 gallon bagged root ball | $16

    Ships UPS, flat charge based on order total

    30 at Gossler Farms

    3.5" pot | $16

    Ships USPS, based on weight/location

    Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

    #1 Container | $24.99

    Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

    Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

    More Options

    Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu' plant details

    Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu' is a moderate-growing, slow-growing evergreen perennial groundcover grass (or grassy in appearance) with black foliage. In fall, spring and summer lavender, pink, purple and white flowers emerge followed by black and purple fruit. Features grassy texture. Grows well with sun - shade and even moisture - occasional water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu'

    Plant type: perennial groundcover grass (or grassy in appearance)
    Plant family: asparagaceae, liliaceae
    Foliage: evergreen black
    Mature size: 12 IN - 36 IN - wide, 6 IN - 8 IN - tall
    Flowers: lavender, pink, purple and white blooms in fall, spring and summer
    Uses: container plant, easy-to-grow, edging plant, goth garden, lawn alternative, miniature, pathway, rock garden, unique, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu'

    USDA Zones: 6a - 10b
    Sun exposure: sun - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - occasional
    Resistant to: deer, rabbit and snail / slug, heat, humidity and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

    We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Black Mondo Grass. Ophiopogon nigrescens is a low growing grassy looking plant. It is great with cyclamen or snowdrops for a great contrast.

    By: Gossler Farms

    Perhaps the darkest-colored grass! This mounding plant has light-colored umbel flowers that rise above the deep purple foliage.

    By: Conifer Kingdom

    A really striking accent or groundcover, the 10" leaves of this grass-like perennial are green when new but turn purplish-black when mature and spread to form attractive clumps; pinkish-white flower spikes in summer are a bonus. S-Sh/M

    By: Forestfarm

    Black Mondo Grass is one of our most popular sellers! Instant DRAMA for the garden or that special pot…6" tall black leaves spread slowly form an 18" clump in 3 years – part sun to shade, not fussy – we like to underplant with golden Lysimachia for wild contrast! Basic black…looks good with everything.

    By: Secret Garden Growers

    The foliage is pale yellow becomes light green later in the season with purple petioles. Orchid lavender flowers bloom in July on 13" scapes.

    By: Noname Nursery

    Zn 5. Black grass-like foliage. Pink flowers.

    By: Little Prince of Oregon

    In the garden, purple and black have become the new beige, dark colors being the perfect contrast and background for just about anything. This small lily relative grows only to about 6" in height, spreading contentedly if given plenty of moisture. The black, evergreen leaves and small lilac flowers make any brightly colored object stand out and look wonderful with your new Goth look -- white powdered makeup not included. Full sun to deep shade; a bit slow growing either way. Frost hardy in upper USDA zone 6.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    Smooth black lily-like foliage flows gracefully from this interesting little plant. Looks great in the front of the border and when underplanted with Lysimachia nummularia aurea. 3-6" tall, full sun to part shade. Comes 70-80% true from seed.

    By: Sunshine Farm and Gardens

    Black Mondo Grass is actually a member of the lily family, but is resembles a purple black broadleaf grass and is used to carpet areas or as a dark container accent. Evergreen and deer proof, it provides contrast to lighter colored foliage. Plants grow 8-10" tall, and spread by stolons.

    By: Avant Gardens

    Description coming soon... Minimum temperature: --?F

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Beautiful clump-forming evergreen perennial with grass-like leaves which are dark purple, almost black. In summer, small racemes of bell-shaped pale purplish-white flowers appear, followed by dark blue fruit. Drought tolerant after well established. Growth Rate medium

    By: Garden World

    Aka: Ebknizam, Black Dragon, Arabicus, Ebony Knight. Infamous for its leathery, almost black evergreen foliage, well suited as a small scale ground cover, in well drained soil. Slow spreading. Pink tinged, white flowers followed by black berries.

    By: Edelweiss Perennials

    A choice plant that gradually develops into a drift of near-black evergreen foliage that is green at the base. It always looks fresh. Pale lavender flowers in the summer followed by deep purple-black berries. Unendingly useful for plant combinations in pots, along pathways or in garden beds. Try it with hostas, heucheras, nepetas, geraniums,...anything really! Though make sure to combine it with something that will show off its black foliage otherwise it will disappear against the dark soil.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    Licorice-black, 1/4" wide, spidery blades, delicate, bell-shaped purplish white flowers on dark spikes, and shiny bluish black fruit are all good reasons to invite this versatile perennial into your garden. The ebony-colored evergreen tufts with newly emerging green leaves can be dramatically juxtaposed against golden Carex elata 'Aurea' or Athyrium niponicum pictum's silver flushed fronds. Nestled in between rocks, along pathways, near water or en masse as an easy going ground cover, Black Mondo Grass competes well with other plant roots, and favors well drained soil, periodic trimming and filtered sun.

    By: Digging Dog Nursery

    Nearly black foliage, this has been around but remains as classy now as when it was first introduced, it is beautiful in combination with 'Silver Dragon'. It is hardy for us but takes a beating in hard winters and vanished completely at 29°F. ZONE 5

    By: Arrowhead Alpines

    Features strap-shaped leaves 6-1" long, that emerge green, but soon turn to black with a lustrous surface. Mature plants form a tuft 8" high and up to 12" wide. White, not especially showy, flowers sometimes flushed pink appear in summer, then develop into shiny, black ornamental berries. Combine with Viola 'Bowles Black' for a truly Gothic effect.

    By: Native Sons

    OPHIOPOGON PLANISCAPUS NIGRESCENS, true black mondo grass with thick glossy tuffs of pure black foliage spreading from underground stolons and produce a carpet of extremely rich black strap shaped leaves. Lt pink flower spikes in summer. Grows 6" tall and spreads up to 12" . Likes full sun to pt shade and hardy in zones 6-9.

    By: Accents for Home and Garden

    Extremely slow growing grass. The blackest leaved plant we know and it is very striking. 6-8" tall. Rarely available. Best when seen up close.

    By: Fantastic Plants

    Dark maroon to almost black, wide, strap-like, arching leaves on a low, dense, clump forming evergreen grass. A striking accent against white marble rock.

    By: Almost Eden

    Black Mondo Grass. Zone 5. Black foliage, pink flowers, black berries. An unusual color for the garden. Needs immaculate drainage.

    By: Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery

    Black Mondo Grass. One of the classiest ornamentals and maybe the best for providing color and textural contrast, this can find a home in any garden. Fairly drought tolerant but thriving in more moist situations, this has evergreen (or everblack) leaves with pink flowers and shiny black pearl seeds.

    By: Far Reaches Farm

    Fabulous glossy, black leaves on this very choice plant! Light lilac colored flowers in late summer. GPP Award 2002.

    By: Briggs Plant Propagators

    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 planiscapus 'Kokuryu' plant

    How to Grow Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu'

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - drought tolerant

    • Soil Needs

      • adaptable
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • humidity tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • black

    • Flower Color

      • white
      • pink
      • lavender
      • purple

    • Wildlife

      • deer resistant
      • snail / slug resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Fruit

      • purple
      • black

    • Flower Season

      • spring
      • summer
      • fall

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • grassy

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