• Photo of Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana's)

Plant Profile: Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'

Names

Dwarf Lilyturf, Dwarf Mondo, Dwarf Mondo Grass

  • Photo of Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana's)

Phonetic Spelling:oh-fee-oh-POH-gon jah-PON-ih-kus NAH-nah

Genus:Ophiopogon

Species:japonicus

Family:Asparagaceae

Dwarf Mondo is a compact, evergreen grass that gradually spreads through short underground stolons, creating a clump that reaches about 6 inches in height. Its arching, blade-like leaves showcase a rich dark green hue, and the berries that appear after flowering are a striking blue. This plant is also resistant to damage from deer and rabbits.

For optimal growth, it should be planted in moderately moist, well-drained soil and in areas with partial sunlight. Dwarf Mondo works well as a low border, nestled between stepping stones, or within a rock garden. It can withstand some foot traffic, making it an excellent alternative to traditional lawns in low-traffic zones.

For further details on Ophiopogon japonicus, visit /plants/ophiopogon-japonicus/.

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Feature Summary

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#white flowers
#lawn alternative
#playground
#ncemgva2018
#deer resistant
#children's garden
#mccarthy memorial garden

Similar Plants

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Feature Summary

Flowers
Short racemes of white flowers
White
Blue
Raceme
Insignificant
Spring
Summer
Leaves
Dark green strap-shaped leaves
Attributes
Perennial
Textural
Whole Plant Traits
Ground Cover
Arching
Mounding
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Less than 12 inches
Landscape
Children's Garden
Mass Planting
Recreational Play Area
Lawn

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Fruit

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Fruit Description

The berries are blue

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Fruit Color

grass
Blue

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Flowers

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Flower Description

Short racemes of white flowers

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
White

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Leaves

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Leaf Description

Dark green strap-shaped leaves

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Attributes

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Whole Plant Traits

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Cultural Conditions

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Stem

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Landscape

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland