Ophiopogon japonicus, Green Mondo Grass, is a striking ground-covering evergreen perennial from Asia. It forms tufty clumps gradually creating a highly attractive mat-like carpet. Much used by garden designers in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, it hasn't caught on in quite the same way in the UK as Black Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'. This is a shame as it is just as attractive and in some ways more so, its green linear leaves creating a vibrant, bright and alive sensation on the eye that is less inclined to drain the light from a planting as its darker relative. Its foliage is somewhat softer and less leathery than Black Mondo Grass and is denser, having a more 'tufty' quality resembling a small Liriope. It growth is also perhaps a little faster although Ophiopogons do not spread as quickly as true grasses, their stolons taking time to creep through the soil.
Ophiopogon japonicus makes an ideal edging plant, defining an area but it is also excellent in bolder broader statements where space permits.
The small white flowers and bright blue berries that follow are relatively insignificant but nontheless very attractive.
Additional Information
Order | Asparagales |
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Family | Asparagaceae |
Sub-Family | Nolinoideae |
Synonyms | Anemarrhena cavaleriei, Convallaria graminifolia, Convallaria japonica, Convallaria japonica, Convallaria japonica var. minor, Flueggea anceps, Flueggea angulata, Flueggea japonica, Flueggea japonica var. minor, Liriope gracilis, Mondo gracile, Mondo gracile var. brevipedicellatum, Mondo japonicum, Mondo longifolium, Mondo stolonifer, Ophiopogon argyi, Ophiopogon chekiangensis, Ophiopogon gracilis, Ophiopogon gracilis var. brevipedicellatus, Ophiopogon japonicus var. caespitosus, Ophiopogon japonicus var. elevatus, Ophiopogon japonicus var. umbrosus, Ophiopogon merrillii, Ophiopogon ohwii, Ophiopogon stolonifer, Polygonastrum compressum, Slateria coerulea, Slateria japonica, Tricoryne acaulis, Tricoryne caulescens |
Geographical Origin | Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, India |
Cultivation | Full sun or partial shade. Rich slightly acidic soil, well drained but moist |
Eventual Height | 20 cm |
Eventual Spread | Slowly spreading by underground stolons: 60 cm |
Hardiness | Hardy in the UK, down to at least -20C |
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