Whenever you happen to’re looking for a grass-like, care-free floor cowl which will add texture to your panorama, then look no additional than this stylish evergreen grass, Ophiopogon japonicus, usually usually generally called mondo grass. Mondo grass originated in Japan and China and is called the standard floor cowl of many Japanese gardens.

This decorative grass is rather like black mondo grass, and actually, it’s a direct relative. Whereas black mondo grass is darkish and spooky-looking, the dwarf lilyturf, or simply mondo grass, is a surprising gentle inexperienced hue and appears good as an accent floor cowl.

Technically not a grass in the slightest degree (it’s additional intently associated to the lily than to most grass species), it’s a surprising species that’s prepared to deal with factors that almost all crops can’t stand – like rising beneath black walnut bushes on account of it’s juglone-resistant. It might furthermore deal with deeply shaded areas, is proof in the direction of salt, and is deer- and rabbit-resistant.

A hottest evergreen species, it may additionally take full picture voltaic circumstances and may produce white to lilac flowers if it’s glad ample. These flowers are tiny, nonetheless they sort in clusters alongside the aspect of the leaves and their bloom stands out from the narrow-bladed leaves. These flowers may even bear fruit which can sort as a tiny, vivid blue berry on the underside of the foliage. 

Overview

Plant Kind Decorative grass, lilyturf Species Ophiopogon japonicus	Native Space China, Japan, Korea Publicity Full picture voltaic to partial shade Peak 6-15”, dwarf varieties 3-4” Watering Necessities Widespread	Pests & Sicknesses Slugs, snails, fungal components, root rot

What’s Ophiopogon Japonicus?

There are two sorts of Ophiopogon japonicus: a typical kind and a dwarf kind. The identical outdated kind very merely spreads by means of stolons, which is an above-ground runner. This makes it a superb alternative for a large space that you simply simply have to cowl like a shady space the place customary turf grasses don’t develop as accurately.

The dwarf kind wouldn’t unfold this development and grows in dense tufts. This makes it easier to regulate and higher fitted to borders or filling in areas between pavers contained in the yard.

Native Space

As talked about above this grass-like evergreen originated in Japan and China and is understood by many frequent names akin to mondo grass, dwarf lilyturf, dwarf mondo grass, Japanese lilyturf, snake’s beard, and monkey grass. 

Traits

Mondo grass is likely to be acknowledged by its partaking evergreen foliage which seems as darkish green-blue strap-shaped leaves. The flowers are small with six petals and the flower shade ranges from white to pale lilac flowers. It is going to generally bloom in early summer time season. This floor cowl is an evergreen which will hold inexperienced and develop year-round although its progress may gradual contained in the winter. This makes a superb low-maintenance border plant because it may survive anyplace from full picture voltaic to shady areas.

It does produce small cobalt blue berries that aren’t poisonous. Nonetheless, there usually are not any acknowledged culinary makes use of for them. The berries seem like blue variations of asparagus berries, which is smart due to this plant is contained in the Asparagaceae household, which is equal household of crops as frequent asparagus.

Study to Develop

Mondo grass is low to medium upkeep and with the next necessities met, you’ll benefit from its evergreen strap leaves along with texture to your panorama by summer time season and winter. More often than not, you’ll even uncover it to be care-free.

Light

Mondo grass can tolerate full picture voltaic to full shade, though the most effective website for this grass could also be partial shade. In sunny areas, the foliage will fade to a lighter inexperienced, whereas transferring this plant to shady areas will convey out the darkish inexperienced leaves.

Water

As with most crops grown in hotter climates, the right time of day to water is contained in the morning in order that the moisture has an opportunity to soak into the soil before the warmth of the day can evaporate it. Nonetheless, inside the event you’ve missed this window of various then the second-best threat is to water it contained in the night time time.

Take care to keep away from wetting the foliage as it would set off fungal components. Ensuing from their small dimension and low progress profile, it’s best to water this plant with a drip irrigation system. As shortly as established, these crops are drought-tolerant and may survive the warmth with out fairly a bit consideration. It’s elevated to underwater barely than overwater these crops as they’re furthermore prone to root rot. Contained in the winter, as their progress slows, cut back the quantity of moisture. 

Soil

This customary floor cowl can survive in numerous soil varieties and may even be grown hydroponically. This makes it a terrific threat for a border spherical a pond as accurately. It has furthermore been noticed at large topic pet retailers being provided as an underwater aquatic plant, nonetheless that isn’t advisable for this plant. It is going to survive completely submerged for just a few weeks after which lastly die as its not an aquatic. This plant prefers barely acidic to impartial soil with a pH of 5.5-7.

It is likely to be grown in containers as accurately so long as they’re filled with well-draining soil. It does significantly accurately on slopes as water drains away from the roots.

Temperature

Ophiopogon japonicus is delicate to frost. A light-weight-weight-weight frost may set off damage that it may get greater from, nonetheless a difficult frost will severely set your crops as soon as extra. Because of this, rising this plant in USDA hardiness zone 6-10 will guarantee its survival. 

Fertilizing

One totally different aspect that makes mondo grass low upkeep is the fact that it doesn’t require any fertilizing in the slightest degree. Whenever you happen to wish to offer it a carry, then a extreme dressing of compost in early spring will almost definitely be ample. In one other case, it survives merely nice in quite a few soil varieties and circumstances so long as the soil is well-draining. 

Upkeep

Pruning shouldn’t be vital for this plant. It is going to develop till it reaches its mature peak after which give consideration to roots, flower manufacturing, and unfold. In distinction to plain turf grasses, it could not must be mowed and may tolerate gentle foot web site company. You’ll solely ever should take away ineffective or broken foliage. 

Propagation

It’s best to propagate Ophiopogon japonicus by division. In early spring dig up a clump of mondo grass and tease aside the roots till you should have numerous sections. Replant every half with a minimal of four-inch spacing and they’re going to lastly unfold to fill contained in the gaps.

Mondo grass may additionally be grown from seed, nonetheless this plant may be very gradual rising so it could presumably take some time to get a viable transplant when rising from seed. 

Widespread Factors

As talked about, mondo grass may be very low upkeep, shade-loving, evergreen, deer-resistant, and an ideal border plant. There aren’t many pest and illness components with this plant, nonetheless there are some points for which to maintain up a watch mounted out. 

Rising Factors

Warmth is likely to be a problem for these lily turfs, significantly mirrored warmth from partitions, walkways, and the like. Metropolis gardening is likely to be filled with pitfalls of this kind in and spherical yard beds or containers. In consequence, it’s advisable all via the summer time season months to offer {{{a partially}}} shaded location away from onerous scapes which is able to soak up and radiate warmth from the picture voltaic. Preserving the soil moist all via scorching native climate may assist your crops deal with a bit additional warmth. Shade materials arching over beds may additionally assist cut back heat in gardens the place these are planted.

Pests

Mondo grass is rabbit and deer-resistant. Nonetheless, slugs and snails have been acknowledged to munch on the leaves occasionally. Whenever you happen to see holes contained in the leaves and so they additionally seem to wilt, then this can be an indicator that slugs or snails are current. Visually take a look at the leaves. As soon as you’ve got acquired chickens, it’s a chance to set them free in your mondo grass for some tasty treats. For these of us and by no means using a yard flock, the most effective plan of movement is a slug and snail bait. There are pure baits comprised of iron phosphate which can be protected to make the most of spherical wildlife, of us, and pets. 

Sicknesses

Fungal sicknesses like anthracnose can influence these shade-loving floor covers. It is a fungal illness that often seems all via the chilly and moist early spring in areas with excessive humidity. It causes leaf spots, cupping, or curling of the leaves and leaf drop. The correct preventative measure could possibly be to confirm there’s good air circulation spherical your crops. After a lilyturf is severely contaminated it’s finest to take away and destroy it to maintain up the fungal an an an infection from spreading to fully totally different lilyturfs. Delicate infections is likely to be handled with a copper fungicide.

Mondo grass is prone to root rot attributable to pythium fungal strains that develop in overly-moist circumstances. Since this plant is barely drought-tolerant, it’s elevated to underwater it than overwater it and hazard root rot components. Root rot is troublesome to reverse if it has already progressed too far. If the plant seems brown and mushy on the underside then this can be an indication of it creating. As soon as extra off on watering and let a minimal of the most effective inch of soil all through the roots dry out completely before watering as quickly as additional. 

Often Requested Questions