View All Plants  ::  View All GRASSES & GRASS-LIKE PLANTS  ::  View All SUN PERENNIALS

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens Nana'

Dwarf Black Mondo Grass

Plant Type:

GRASSES & GRASS-LIKE PLANTS

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens Nana' - Black Mondo Grass but dwarf! This sweetie grows only 4 to 6 inches tall with all the depth of black as the foliage of its big brother. Purple late season flowers will bear glossy black "berries" when pollinated. This will make a beautiful, refined black carpet when planted en masse albeit slowly. But bonsai enthusiasts might consider this as an elegant palette cleanser when potted and set between specimens. And the uses go on and on... as an edger, a railroad garden candidate, front of the border, in a pot or trough, a dynamic contrast plant in almost any setting or simply a fetching potted plant. Full to mostly full sun planted in fertile soil. Remember: this is not a grass; rather, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens Nana' is a proud member of Liliaceae. Fertile, draining ground in sun to part shade. Established pot grown perennial from division.


Height:

4-6 in

Spread:

6-8 in

Colors:

Purple

Zone:

(5b)6 to 9
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens Nana'

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Late Summer into Autumn

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Four Seasons

Autumn Interest

  • Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads

Nature Attraction

  • Honey Bees & Native Bees
  • Butterflies

Light

  • Mostly Sunny
  • Full Sun

Attributes

  • Border
  • Massing
  • Container
  • Collector Plant
  • Small / Miniature
  • Potted Plant
  • Edging
  • Accent
  • Rock Garden
  • Evergreen
  • Ground Cover

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Slow

Soil

  • Fertile
  • Organic
  • Moist
  • Draining

Origins

  • Japan

Propagated By

  • Division

Genus Overview: Ophiopogon

Common Name: Mondo Grass

The Mondo Grasses make beautiful grass-like ground covering blankets adaptable to sun in the north, happier in part to open shade farther south. They are not grasses at all; in fact, they are members of the Liliaceae as is Liriope with which they are closely allied. Plant the virtually evergreen Mondo Grasses in fertile soil for best growth. Once established they do demonstrate drought tolerance. Spring planting is advised if you are to attempt them in the north range. Ophiopogon spreads moderately fast and is a colonizing plant. All of the following are offered by pot grown division.