It is not a true grass, but it does have strappy leaves and a clumping habit. In summer it brightens up the area with lavender or white flowers that develop into glossy black fruit. Growing mondo grass is easy, as the plant withstands neglect in regions where plentiful moisture is naturally available.

Is mondo grass green year round?

Just like regular grass, it will remain green all year while adding a unique touch to your yard. Not only does this plant look great but are also incredibly easy to grow and maintain. Mondo Grass also grows slowly so you can tame it and reroute it where you want it.

What is the difference between mondo grass and liriope?

Liriope is upright, with straight blades, and is the taller of the two (by about 8 inches). Mondo grass has more narrow blades and a drooping aspect. When liriope produces its showy flowers, you will see them above the grass blades. This is because the flowers of mondo grass are hidden within the blades.

Does mondo grass go dormant?

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.

Can you trim 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.

Will mondo grass choke out other plants?

It is an aggressive spreader and should only be used in areas that need full coverage, as it will choke out other plants. Of the Ophiopogon genus, the monkey grass most commonly used is O. japonicus, or mondo grass, with fine, dark colored leaves that thrive in shaded areas.

Does mondo grass grow full sun?

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. 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.

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.

Does Mondo grow in shade?

Mondo Grass prefers a part shade to full sun position in the garden that has well drained soil. They should not be planted in full afternoon sun as the leaf tips will burn. They are frost tolerant and require little water once established.

Can black mondo grass take full sun?

Botanical NameOphiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’Sun ExposureFull sun to part shadeSoil TypeMoist, well-drainedSoil pH5.5 to 6.5

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Why is my mondo grass going yellow?

A bacterial disease that causes burnt-looking leaf tips, yellowing leaves and rotting roots, pythium root rot is a serious disease in miniature mondo grass that often develops in heavy soils with poor drainage. Biological pesticides control Pythium splendens, the bacteria that causes the disease.

Should I cut back black mondo grass?

Lush, healthy mondo grass doesn’t need annual pruning to keep it looking its best. Only when drought, a severe winter or other seasonal woes causes foliage to look tattered would you need to consider pruning it. Pruning may be necessary only every other spring or every third spring.

Is mondo grass invasive?

Is Mondo Grass Invasive? Mondo grass is described as invasive because it is hard to control its spread or get rid of it. In many southern states, Mondo grass is considered invasive and grows through turf lawns and gardens.

Is mondo grass like monkey grass?

Mondo grass is also called monkey grass. Mondo grass is an evergreen perennial and makes a good groundcover or standalone grass-like plant. Low-growing, dependable, and green, liriope and mondo fill in the cracks between seasons.

Does mondo grass tolerate foot traffic?

Dwarf mondo grass can tolerate being walked on every now and then, but regular foot traffic will destroy it. If you’ll need to walk through an area planted with mondo grass, install stepping stones or another type of path. The plant is moderately pet-friendly.

How often should you water mondo grass?

Water the dwarf mondo grass thoroughly when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil becomes dry, usually every 10 to 14 days. Never allow the soil to become soggy, instead water to keep it evenly moist. Stop applying water during the winter when new growth has slowed or stopped.

How far apart should you plant mondo grass?

Mondo Grass Spacing Plant 4 to 12 inches apart in mass plantings or when planted as an edging. The closer you plant each plug, the faster it will fill in for complete coverage. You should also stagger between rows for the best coverage.

What can I plant with mondo grass?

Planting: Plant mondo grass from spring through fall in well-drained soil. 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.

Can you grow mondo grass in pots?

Intro: Mondo grass and dwarf mondo grass are grown as ground covers, and if you want to cover some bare space in a plant container (such as underneath a tree), mondo grass is a great container plant choice. This “grass” never needs to be mowed, and it grows in little round mounds.

Why is my mondo grass turning brown?

Withered, brown leaf tips are the first sign of attack by a fungus called Pythium splendens, which causes root rot in mondo grass. The disease progresses down the leaves, and they turn yellow or brown. Finally, the leaves separate easily from the base of the plant when pulled.

Can you transplant mondo grass?

Mondo grass—which is technically not a grass but a member of the lilac family—is a warm weather grass that is easy to transplant and takes over a yard relatively quickly, crowding out all other grasses and weeds. … Water the area thoroughly every other day for 6 days to encourage the growth of weeds and other vegetation.

Will deer eat mondo grass?

Examples of ornamental grasses deer might eat include bamboo, bottlebrush grass, drooping sedge, dwarf mondo grass, ribbon grass, and sedge. … Other popular grasses, such as big bluestem, blue fescue, and feather reed grass are rarely eaten by deer.

Is mondo grass toxic to cats?

I can’t tell you that mondograss is definitely NOT toxic to cats. … It is not unusual for cats to consume grasses and other such plants and then regurgitate to remove something from their stomach. Ask you vet about this and perhaps he could offer some other possible causes.

How do you keep weeds out of mondo grass?

After planting liriope or mondo grass, apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch to the planting area to help prevent weed growth. Encouraging vegetative growth will help attain a solid cover more quickly. Both liriope and mondo grass will thrive with at least a yearly application of mulch and fertilizer.

Does mondo grass have berries?

Pick the berries from the black mondo grass around the end of October or the beginning of November. Ripe berries are completely black or dark purple without any green coloration on the berries. If the skin of the berries is still a bit green, just leave them on the plants a little longer.

When can you plant mondo grass?

Plan to plant mondo grass during the period of spring through fall in a well-draining location that receives full to partial shade and is free of weeds.

What is the shortest mondo grass?

Mondo Grass dot COM Purchase online. This ornamental grass is our smallest grass, growing only 1 1/2 inches tall! Works nicely with smaller flower beds, indoor planting and bonsai arrangements.

Does black mondo grass come back every year?

Forming tight, matted clumps in its bed, this grasslike perennial grows in zones 6-10. 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.

Is black mondo grass evergreen?

Common Name: Black Mondo Grass Looking much like a black Liriope, Black Mondo Grass is a compact, densely growing, clump forming, evergreen, grass-like plant. When grown in full sun in the north, the foliage emerges purplish-green and then turns nearly jet black. It has a softly arching habit.

Is black mondo grass invasive?

That would be so-called ‘black Mondo grass’, which despite its common name, is a different species of plant within the Ophiopogon genus. … Ah, but some other members of the Ophiopogon genus, like Aztec grass, are aggressive and highly invasive. Be careful you don’t get one of them mislabeled as Mondo.

What eats mondo grass?

Rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels will all happily munch on your mondo grass.