Asked by: Najia Bracal
home and garden landscaping

Where does mondo grass come from?

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Ophiopogon japonicus is the scientific name and refers to the plant's native region of Asia. The components of the name are derived from the Latin words for snake and beard, a reference to the spiky flowers.


Keeping this in consideration, how does mondo grass grow?

Native to the woodlands of Japan and Korea, mondo grass grows best and reaches its full spread within a few years in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. In cooler areas, its roots need plenty of protection from low temperatures. It also prefers well-draining but fertile soil.

Beside above, where can you use mondo grass? Versatile mondo grass. A perfect plant for medium to full shade conditions, Ophiopogon japonicus, also known as mondo grass, is a great filler for containers and beds. It's a useful groundcover, and is ideal to use bordering paths, in the front of borders, and in rock gardens.

Herein, what does mondo grass look like?

The basic type grows to around eight inches in height, but the leaves tend to bow down, giving it a shorter appearance and leading to a more full, lawn-like look. Mondo grass lawns need no mowing, tolerate pretty deep shade and are very drought resistant.

Can mondo grass be walked on?

Dwarf mondo grass grows well under shady or sunny conditions. While dwarf mondo grass can take some occasional walking on, it is not recommended as a lawn surface where children frequently play or where it will get a lot of recreational use.

Related Question Answers

Wael Vasilica

Professional

Is Mondo Grass expensive?

Traditionally, Mondo grass has always been expensive, with 4″ pots selling for $7 to $8 each.

Wenjun Utermohle

Professional

Is mondo grass poisonous to dogs?

Some plants, such as mondo grass, can be • killed by dog wee, so be careful about which plants you use where dogs frequently “go”.

Eudocia Loeveling

Professional

Should mondo grass be cut back?

Lush, healthy mondo grass doesn't need annual pruning to keep it looking its best. Only when drought, a severe winter or other seasonal woes causes foliage to look tattered would you need to consider pruning it. Pruning may be necessary only every other spring or every third spring.

Yi Manquinho

Explainer

What is the difference between mondo grass and monkey grass?

A: You have two kissing cousins growing in the same spot. Variegated monkey grass is Liriope muscari 'Variegata'. The shorter, dark green plant is mondo grass, Ophiopogon japonicus. The two look very similar but liriope is usually distinctly larger.

Cheryll Sandalinas

Explainer

Does mondo grass stay green year round?

First of all, mondo's leaves will remain green throughout the winter months. When normal grass starts to turn brown as the temperatures get cool, mondo grass stays deep green all year round. Secondly, mondo grass can thrive in shady areas where many other types of grasses struggle to grow.

Weam Retolaza

Explainer

How far apart do you plant mondo grass?

How Far Apart Do You Plant Mondo Grass?
  1. Separate Clumps. Separate mondo grass clumps into individual tufts.
  2. Spacing. Dwarf varieties should be planted 2 to 4 inches apart.
  3. Panting. When planting, make sure the roots and rhizomes are well-covered by gently pressing the soil around them, but do not plant the crowns too deeply.
  4. Herbicide.
  5. Disease and Pest Control.

Lidon Tromonin

Pundit

Why is my mondo grass dying?

Withered, brown leaf tips are the first sign of attack by a fungus called Pythium splendens, which causes root rot in mondo grass. The disease progresses down the leaves, and they turn yellow or brown. Finally, the leaves separate easily from the base of the plant when pulled.

Gaynelle Fastabend

Pundit

How deep do you plant mondo grass?

Dig several planting holes for the tufts of grass.
These should be 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide and 6 inches (15 cm) deep, and spaced 4 inches (10 cm) to 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Planting the tufts closer together will result in thicker, more bountiful-looking growth.

Gurdeep Usannaz

Pundit

How do I get rid of mondo grass weeds?

Re: Weeds in mondo grass
One way to control broadleaf or any other weed in common mondo grass is the occasional use of Roundup, applied at half of its recommended strength. If you try this, be very careful! Roundup will kill most plants it contacts, however, common mondo grass is rather resistant.

Issiaka Javitz

Pundit

Can you split dwarf mondo grass?

Dwarf Mondo Grass Division
Use your hands to break the clump into smaller clumps or use a sharp, clean knife to cut the clump into smaller pieces. Plant the dwarf mondo grass clumps in the locations you would like them to grow in. The best time to divide your mondo grass is in the early spring or early fall.

Puy Higueruela

Pundit

How do you control mondo grass?

Both liriope and mondo grass will thrive with at least a yearly application of mulch and fertilizer. If possible, water when soil conditions are extremely dry. To encourage spreading, mow liriope or mondo grass to 2-3 inches early in spring before applying an application of fertilizer and mulch.

Sufian Kronenberger

Teacher

How tall is mondo grass?

This is the type you'll come to expect when you hear Mondo Grass – Ophiopogon Japonicus is the most common type of this grass. It has an average height of 6 to 10 inches but has been known to be as tall as 12 inches. The great thing about this species is that it grows upwards of 15 inches wide per plant.

Adalbert Caner

Teacher

How tall is dwarf mondo grass?

Dwarf Mondo Grass botanical name is Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanus'. There is also mondo grass which grows up to 15 inches tall.

Hafsa Kirchesch

Teacher

Can mondo grass grow in full sun?

Garden Location
Although mondo grass tolerates full sun, intense sunlight during summer afternoons can harm the plant's foliage. Mondo grass will grow in full shade, but can get leggy rather than forming lush mounds.

Deandra Abu

Reviewer

How do I get grass to grow?

Here's how to grow a lawn from grass seed, in six simple steps.
  1. Step 1: Get rid of the old sod. Out with the old.
  2. Step 2: Test and amend your soil.
  3. Step 3: Select your grass seed.
  4. Step 4: Plant and fertilize your grass seed.
  5. Step 5: Water and watch: Your post-planting chores.
  6. Step 6: When to give new grass its first mow.

Sayonara Lagover

Reviewer

Can you mow monkey grass?

When to Trim Monkey Grass: Like other types of ornamental grasses, the best time to cut back monkey grass is in late winter or early spring. That way it will stay green all winter and insulate its roots from the cold, then after trimming the monkey grass only be bare for a few weeks while new leaves grow.

Santa Plichko

Reviewer

How often should you water mondo grass?

Water the dwarf mondo grass thoroughly when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil becomes dry, usually every 10 to 14 days. Never allow the soil to become soggy, instead water to keep it evenly moist. Stop applying water during the winter when new growth has slowed or stopped.

Essa Plamenov

Supporter

What is eating my mondo grass?

Rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels will all happily munch on your mondo grass. There's not much you can do to discourage them. That works on them but hasn't discouraged the chipmunks. I've had squirrels eat my cactus plants!

Kathie Kutzki

Supporter

How fast does black mondo grass grow?

You can grow mondo grass from seed, but it is time-intensive. Black mondo seed has a low germination rate. It's also slow to germinate, and can take anywhere from 30-150 days. Since it's a slow-growing plant, preparing enough starts for a ground cover takes a while!