Find out how to Plant, Develop, and Take care of Ophiopogon Japonicus
In the event you’re on the lookout for a grass-like, care-free floor cowl that can add texture to your panorama, then look no additional than this standard evergreen grass, Ophiopogon japonicus, generally often known as mondo grass. Mondo grass originated in Japan and China and is named the standard floor cowl of many Japanese gardens.
This decorative grass is similar to black mondo grass, and in reality, it’s a direct relative. Whereas black mondo grass is darkish and spooky-looking, the dwarf lilyturf, or simply mondo grass, is a beautiful mild inexperienced hue and appears nice as an accent floor cowl.
Technically not a grass in any respect (it’s extra carefully associated to the lily than to most grass species), it’s a beautiful species that’s in a position to deal with issues that the majority crops can’t stand – like rising beneath black walnut bushes because it’s juglone-resistant. It may additionally deal with deeply shaded areas, is immune to salt, and is deer- and rabbit-resistant.
A well-liked evergreen species, it could actually additionally take full solar situations and can produce white to lilac flowers if it’s joyful sufficient. These flowers are tiny, however they type in clusters alongside the aspect of the leaves and their bloom stands out from the narrow-bladed leaves. These flowers might even bear fruit which is able to type as a tiny, shiny blue berry on the base of the foliage.
Overview
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What’s Ophiopogon Japonicus?
There are two forms of Ophiopogon japonicus: a normal kind and a dwarf kind. The usual kind very simply spreads through stolons, which is an above-ground runner. This makes it a wonderful alternative for a big space that you simply want to cowl like a shady space the place conventional turf grasses don’t develop as properly.
The dwarf kind doesn’t unfold this fashion and grows in dense tufts. This makes it simpler to manage and higher suited to borders or filling in areas between pavers within the backyard.
Native Space
As talked about above this grass-like evergreen originated in Japan and China and is understood by many widespread names akin to mondo grass, dwarf lilyturf, dwarf mondo grass, Japanese lilyturf, snake’s beard, and monkey grass.
Traits
Mondo grass could be recognized by its engaging evergreen foliage which seems as darkish green-blue strap-shaped leaves. The flowers are small with six petals and the flower shade ranges from white to pale lilac flowers. It would usually bloom in early summer time. This floor cowl is an evergreen that can stay inexperienced and develop year-round although its development might sluggish within the winter. This makes a wonderful low-maintenance border plant as it could actually survive wherever from full solar to shady areas.
It does produce small cobalt blue berries that aren’t poisonous. Nonetheless, there are not any recognized culinary makes use of for them. The berries seem like blue variations of asparagus berries, which is smart as a result of this plant is within the Asparagaceae household, which is similar household of crops as widespread asparagus.
Find out how to Develop
Mondo grass is low to medium upkeep and with the next necessities met, you’ll get pleasure from its evergreen strap leaves including texture to your panorama by summer time and winter. More often than not, you’ll even discover it to be care-free.
Mild
Mondo grass can tolerate full solar to full shade, though the most effective web site for this grass could also be partial shade. In sunny areas, the foliage will fade to a lighter inexperienced, whereas transferring this plant to shady areas will carry out the darkish inexperienced leaves.
Water
As with most crops grown in hotter climates, the perfect time of day to water is within the morning in order that the moisture has an opportunity to soak into the soil earlier than the warmth of the day can evaporate it. Nonetheless, in the event you’ve missed this window of alternative then the second-best choice is to water it within the night.
Take care to keep away from wetting the foliage as this may occasionally trigger fungal points. Due to their small dimension and low development profile, it’s best to water this plant with a drip irrigation system. As soon as established, these crops are drought-tolerant and can survive the warmth with out a lot consideration. It’s higher to underwater quite than overwater these crops as they’re additionally prone to root rot. Within the winter, as their development slows, scale back the quantity of moisture.
Soil
This conventional floor cowl can survive in a large number of soil sorts and may even be grown hydroponically. This makes it a fantastic choice for a border round a pond as properly. It has additionally been noticed at huge field pet shops being bought as an underwater aquatic plant, however that isn’t advisable for this plant. It would survive fully submerged for a couple of weeks after which finally die as its not an aquatic. This plant prefers barely acidic to impartial soil with a pH of 5.5-7.
It may be grown in containers as properly so long as they’re full of well-draining soil. It does notably properly on slopes as water drains away from the roots.
Temperature
Ophiopogon japonicus is delicate to frost. A light-weight frost might trigger harm that it could actually get well from, however a tough frost will severely set your crops again. For that reason, rising this plant in USDA hardiness zone 6-10 will guarantee its survival.
Fertilizing
One other side that makes mondo grass low upkeep is the truth that it doesn’t require any fertilizing in any respect. In the event you want to give it a lift, then a prime dressing of compost in early spring can be ample. In any other case, it survives simply positive in lots of soil sorts and conditions so long as the soil is well-draining.
Upkeep
Pruning will not be obligatory for this plant. It would develop till it reaches its mature peak after which deal with roots, flower manufacturing, and unfold. Not like conventional turf grasses, it doesn’t must be mowed and may tolerate mild foot site visitors. You’ll solely ever have to take away lifeless or broken foliage.
Propagation
It’s best to propagate Ophiopogon japonicus by division. In early spring dig up a clump of mondo grass and tease aside the roots till you might have a number of sections. Replant every part with no less than four-inch spacing and they’ll finally unfold to fill within the gaps.
Mondo grass can be grown from seed, however this plant may be very sluggish rising so it’ll take some time to get a viable transplant when rising from seed.
Frequent Issues
As talked about, mondo grass may be very low upkeep, shade-loving, evergreen, deer-resistant, and an ideal border plant. There aren’t many pest and illness points with this plant, however there are some things for which to maintain an eye fixed out.
Rising Issues
Warmth could be a difficulty for these lily turfs, notably mirrored warmth from partitions, walkways, and the like. City gardening could be full of pitfalls of this kind in and round backyard beds or containers. In consequence, it’s really useful in the course of the summer time months to offer {a partially} shaded location away from arduous scapes that may take up and radiate warmth from the solar. Retaining the soil moist throughout sizzling climate may also assist your crops deal with a bit extra warmth. Shade material arching over beds may additionally assist scale back heat in gardens the place these are planted.
Pests
Mondo grass is rabbit and deer-resistant. Nonetheless, slugs and snails have been recognized to munch on the leaves on occasion. In the event you see holes within the leaves and so they seem to wilt, then this can be an indicator that slugs or snails are current. Visually examine the leaves. You probably have chickens, this is a chance to set them free in your mondo grass for some tasty treats. For these of us with no yard flock, the most effective plan of action is a slug and snail bait. There are natural baits made out of iron phosphate which are secure to make use of round wildlife, individuals, and pets.
Illnesses
Fungal illnesses like anthracnose can have an effect on these shade-loving floor covers. It is a fungal illness that often seems in the course of the chilly and moist early spring in areas with excessive humidity. It causes leaf spots, cupping, or curling of the leaves and leaf drop. The most effective preventative measure could be to make sure there may be good air circulation round your crops. After a lilyturf is severely contaminated it’s finest to take away and destroy it to maintain the fungal an infection from spreading to different lilyturfs. Delicate infections could be handled with a copper fungicide.
Mondo grass is prone to root rot brought on by pythium fungal strains that develop in overly-moist situations. Since this plant is quite drought-tolerant, it’s higher to underwater it than overwater it and threat root rot points. Root rot is difficult to reverse if it has already progressed too far. If the plant seems brown and mushy on the base then this can be an indication of it creating. Again off on watering and let no less than the highest inch of soil across the roots dry out fully earlier than watering once more.
Incessantly Requested Questions
It is a superb evergreen decorative grass, good for including a border to your gardens and including texture to backyard areas.
The usual kind could be thought-about invasive because it spreads through above-ground stolons, however it grows slowly and could be simply managed.
Dwarf sorts have a mature unfold of three to 4 inches and won’t unfold past that.
No, though they’re each perennials evergreens within the lily household and have a really comparable look. Liriope will develop taller (12-24 inches) and has broader leaves. The flowers of liriope additionally develop upward on a tall stalk.
