Ophiopogon planiscapus: Country Or Region Of Origin
Japan
Plant Profile: Ophiopogon planiscapus
Names
Black Mondo Grass, Mondo Grass
Phonetic Spelling:oh-fee-oh-POH-gon plan-ih-SKAY-pus
Genus:Ophiopogon
Species:planiscapus
Family:Asparagaceae
Mondo Grass, a member of the asparagus family, is an attractive ornamental grass. This evergreen groundcover reaches heights of 8 to 12 inches and features a tufted growth habit. During the summer, it produces large clusters of vibrant flowers that rise prominently above its nearly black foliage, creating a striking visual contrast. While it spreads gradually, some offshoots may revert to a green hue.
For optimal growth, plant Mondo Grass in fertile, moist, slightly acidic soils that are well-drained, ideally in areas with partial sun to partial shade. It thrives in consistently moist conditions and is suitable for use in borders, as edging, or along the edges of streams and ponds.
This plant is generally resistant to pests.
Quick Identification Tips:
Ophiopogon planiscapus Feature Summary
Ophiopogon planiscapus Image Gallery
Tags
#purple
#white
#white flowers
#purple flowers
#shade tolerant
#mass planting
#berries
#blue fruits
#borders
#grass-like
#fantz
#border front
#pond edge
Similar Plants
Ophiopogon planiscapus is often confused with:
Ophiopogon planiscapus Feature Summary
Attributes
Fruit
Fruits are blue globose berries that are less than an inch in size.
Berry
Blue
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
The epithet planiscapus means 'flattened scape' and refers to the flattened flower-stalk. White tinted with lilac bell-shaped flowers appear mid-summer on a raceme that is 2.5" in size.
Purple/Lavender
White
Raceme
Summer
Bell
Leaves
Leaves are simple, entire, linear, less than an inch wide, 14" long, and black to purple-black in color.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Black
Purple/Lavender
Simple
Rosulate
Linear
Entire
> 6 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Stems are stoloniferous and are spread by runners.
Whole Plant Traits
Ground Cover
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Broadleaf Evergreen
Spreading
Clumping
Slow
Low
Medium
Fine
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Rock Garden
Rain Garden
Water Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Insect Pests
Container
Pond
Ophiopogon planiscapus Image Gallery
Ophiopogon planiscapus Attributes
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Ophiopogon planiscapus Fruit
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Fruit Description
Fruits are blue globose berries that are less than an inch in size.
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Fruit Color
Blue
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Ophiopogon planiscapus Flowers
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Flower Description
The epithet planiscapus means 'flattened scape' and refers to the flattened flower-stalk. White tinted with lilac bell-shaped flowers appear mid-summer on a raceme that is 2.5" in size.
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Flower Color
Purple/Lavender
White
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Ophiopogon planiscapus Leaves
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Description
Leaves are simple, entire, linear, less than an inch wide, 14" long, and black to purple-black in color.
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Color
Black
Purple/Lavender
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ophiopogon planiscapus Stem
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Stem Description
Stems are stoloniferous and are spread by runners.
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Ophiopogon planiscapus Whole Plant Traits
Ophiopogon planiscapus: 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 planiscapus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ophiopogon planiscapus: 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 planiscapus: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Ophiopogon planiscapus Cultural Conditions
Ophiopogon planiscapus: 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 planiscapus: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Ophiopogon planiscapus: 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 planiscapus: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Ophiopogon planiscapus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Ophiopogon planiscapus Landscape
Ophiopogon planiscapus: 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 planiscapus: 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 planiscapus: 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 planiscapus: 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
