Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus
This elegant, low-growing evergreen creates perfect edging and ground cover with its fine, dark green grass-like foliage. Mondo grass forms dense, weed-suppressing mats that require virtually no maintenance once established, making it ideal for busy gardeners. Its neat, uniform appearance and ability to thrive in shade make it a designer favorite for contemporary landscapes.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
6–10
USDA hardiness
Height
6-12 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Mondo Grass in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 ground-cover →Zone Map
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Mondo Grass · Zones 6–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day), Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Fruit is a globose berry, opalescent or metallic blue in color, less than an inch in diameter, and are hidden in the foliage.
Color: Blue. Type: Berry. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Showy
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Summer
History & Origin
Origin: China, Korea, Japan
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Deer, Foot Traffic, Heavy Shade, Insect Pests, Rabbits, Salt
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Hostas
Similar shade tolerance and moisture requirements, complementary textures
Japanese Painted Fern
Both thrive in shade with consistent moisture, attractive foliage contrast
Heuchera
Compatible growing conditions and adds colorful foliage above mondo grass
Astilbe
Shares preference for partial shade and moist soil, provides height variation
Caladium
Similar shade requirements, colorful leaves complement mondo grass texture
Azaleas
Both prefer acidic soil and partial shade, mondo grass works well as underplanting
Liriope
Very similar growing requirements and appearance, can be mixed for textural variety
Japanese Maple
Mondo grass makes excellent groundcover under these shade-providing trees
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many plants including mondo grass
Eucalyptus
Allelopathic compounds in leaves and roots suppress nearby plant growth
Mint
Aggressive spreading nature can overwhelm and crowd out mondo grass
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance, very few problems
Common Pests
Scale insects, mealybugs (rare)
Diseases
Root rot in waterlogged soils (uncommon)