List 12 – Ophiopogon japonicas ‘Nippon’
Ophiopogon japonicas ‘Nippon’ (dwarf mondo grass)
Family: Asparagaceae
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-10
Size:
- 20 cm
- 15cm tall
Form:
- Low; sod-forming
Soil & Water requirements:
- Prefers moist soil
- Well-drained
Exposure:
- Shade tolerant; best in filtered sun to full shade
- Requires a protected area
Leaves:
- Fine textured; narrow; tufted; grass-like
- Foliage turns lighter in filtered shade, and is a dark green in full shade
- Potential issue: if winter is too cold, the leaves will develop brown tips; this makes the plant quite unattractive for the following two years
- Evergreen perennial
Flowers:
- Small white to white/lilac flowers
- Often hidden within the foliage
Fruit:
- Blue berry
Suitable uses:
- Ground cover
- Rock gardens
- Filler underneath trees or shrubs
- Along streams and ponds
- Fronts of borders
Potential Pairings:
- Mass planting, broken up with islands of moss
Propagation:
- Easily established and require minimal maintenance
- Propagate by diving large clumps; ensuring a minimum of 8-10 leaves in each division
Other:
- Cannot stand foot traffic and will die back if people walk on it; this is potentially an issue because it resembles grass; important to plant in an area that will not be accessed directly by people