Does black mondo grass grow in shade?

Category: home and garden landscaping
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It is slow to spread as it needs to branch out from stolons under the surface of the ground. Black Mondo Grass flourishes in full sun (or part shade) and needs to be watered routinely. Black Mondo Grass is considered a rare type due to its dark leaves. It can grow to 10 inches high and blooms in the summer months.



Also question is, why does black mondo grass turn green?

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) that becomes discolored or grows poorly might be suffering from root rot. This dark green, grassy perennial grows best in moist, freely draining soil. Poor drainage and overwatering cause root rot, and slugs and snails can also attack mondo grass, causing wilting.

Beside above, how do you take care of black mondo grass? How to Grow Black Mondo Grass. Space the plants about 4 inches apart, planting them in moist, well-drained soil, and immediately top-dress them with a layer of compost to help retain soil moisture. No seasonal feeding is needed. Each spring, remove the old foliage from around the plants.

In this manner, 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!

How long does it take mondo grass to spread?

Standard mondo grass reaches a mature spread up to 1 foot wide within a year or two, but dwarf mondo grass needs two to three years under ideal conditions to reach its spread of 3 to 4 inches.

35 Related Question Answers Found

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.

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.

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”.

What eats mondo grass?

Rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels will all happily munch on your mondo grass.

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.

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.

What goes well with black mondo grass?

A classic pairing for black Mondo grass are plants with yellow or chartreuse leaves. Some good choices include the ornamental blue fescue grass (Festucs flauca) for sunny or partially shaded areas in USDA zones 1 through 10, which will grow slightly taller than the mondo grass.

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.

How big does black mondo grow?

Black Mondo grows to about 10" tall, and will slowly spread to about two feet. Loose spikes of small, light pink or white, bell shaped flowers appear in mid summer, followed by small black berries.

What is the best grass to grow in the shade?


Fine fescues have the greatest shade tolerance among common cool-season grasses, while tall fescues do well in moderate shade. Perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass need more sun, but some varieties tolerate light shade well. Trees compete with lawn grasses for water, light and nutrients.

When should I trim my 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.

Is monkey grass invasive?

There are two types of liriope or monkey grass-not just variegated and green. The spreading form is Liriope spicata and is quite invasive. You can dig up as much as you can and then watch what sprouts from remaining roots and spray those with a glyphosate product (Round-up).

How do you spread monkey grass?

Since monkey grass spreads its roots and grows out from where you originally plant it, it's perfect for transplanting. Dig up chunks of the plant, including the roots, and replant them in shady areas. Plant multiple clumps of grass far enough apart that they can spread out.

Does dwarf mondo grass flower?

Dwarf Mondo Grass will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 6 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 6 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground.

How do you keep monkey grass from spreading?


Digging the monkey grass will get the roots and will keep the spreading nature under control. Use a spade or shovel to dig down around the liriope. Till the area around the removed plants and over the ground with plastic or newspaper to help choke out further growth.

Can dwarf 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.

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.