Ophiopogon planiscapus

Ophiopogon planiscapus, black mondo grass,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is a small evergreen perennial growing to 20 cm (8 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in)wide.[2] It grows from short rhizomes, and bears tufts of grasslike leaves, from which purple or white flowers emerge in racemes held on short stems above the leaves. It is native to Japan, where it grows on open and forested slopes.[3][4]

Ophiopogon planiscapus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Ophiopogon
Species:
O. planiscapus
Binomial name
Ophiopogon planiscapus
Nakai

Garden use

The cultivar 'Nigrescens' (black mondo, black mondo grass[1] or black lilyturf) is grown as groundcover. Its leaves turn from green to dark purple (black) and can grow to 8 in (203 mm) tall and 1/4 inch wide. The flowers are white to pale lilac. This plant is commonly used in rock gardens or raised beds as an ornamental plant; owing to its dwarf qualities it can be lost in borders.[3] Under the cultivar name 'Kokuryu' it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]

There are also two variegated forms called 'Little Tabby' and 'Silver Ribbon'. These are green with white borders around the leaves.[6]

Propagation

The plants spread by underground stolons with thick fleshy roots making fair sized colonies which can be separated by division in the spring.

References
  1. https://www.edenproject.com/shop/Black-Mondo-Grass.aspx
  2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. European Garden Flora vol. 1, p. 266
  4. When Perennials Bloom: An Almanac for Planning and Planting by Tomasz Aniśko, p. 342
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Kokuryu'". Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  6. 1963-, Aniśko, Tomasz (2008). When perennials bloom : an almanac for planning and planting. Portland: Timber Press. ISBN 9780881928877. OCLC 191846797.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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