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Black mondo grass ( Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens ) is a popular ornamental that is often used to create showy borders around garden beds or alongside walkways .
This clod - form grass is vulgar in landscapes because its black parting can accentuate some of the other plants in your garden so that they will stand out even more . It is also darling because it is straightforward to like for since it distribute through rootstalk and does n’t demand pruning or pout .
bootleg mondo supergrass is consider invasive in many southern states because it can fleetly spread all over garden and become a nuisance in turf lawns and gardens . Technically , it also is n’t a grass , but it is a member of the asparagus family .
If you want to grow slurred clumps of black mondo grass , then it is essential to grow it in the right locating and under the correct atmospheric condition . In this guide , we will share some care backsheesh that can avail these exciting foliation plants brandish .
Plant Facts
What Does Black Mondo Grass Look Like?
Black mondo grass is pretty easy to identify because it produces marvelous but slender grass - comparable leave of absence that are very dark-skinned . The leaf color can change . In cool temperature or nuance , the leave of absence can appear dark green . In tender weather and a slenderly more sunny position , the folio will become much darker and appear jet plane - mordant or purple - black .
These cosmetic grassescan salad days in summer , produce showy light purple orwhite flowerswell above the leaf . After some time , the flower will transmute into violet berries , and the seeds will also take shape within these Chuck Berry .
Where Does Black Mondo Grass Grow?
Mondo grass is aboriginal to Japan and Korea where it course maturate on open and forested slopes . Because of the plant ’s attractive visual aspect , it is , however , used in many different countries across the world as an ornamental garden feature film .
How to Grow Black Mondo Grass?
Growing and caring for this ornamental gage is simple , but grow it in a suitable environment is crucial under appropriate conditions . Remember that this plant life has a slow growth rate , and you must be patient if you want to arise lush bunch for borderline or aggregative planting .
Here is a warm look at our black mondo grass maintenance scheme .
Propagation
Black mondo grass can be develop from seed or propagated by divide the clunk before replant them .
If you are grow this industrial plant from seeds , it is honorable to soak them in warm water for 24 hours before sow them . These seeds can be sown straight off in your garden filth , and it is best to sow during fall . By former outpouring , you should see some sprout after about 30 – 150 days .
Rhizomes pass around these works and form dense clumps . The clumps can be divide to propagate the plant . It is best to wait until belated fall , just before the first fresh growths appear , before comprehend up the rootstalk for dividing .
To divide the rhizomes , you may excavate the clod , rinse them , and cut them into smaller size . These modest portion can then be replant and kept moist for a dyad of weeks so the new radical can take .
Soil
sinister Liriope muscari should be planted in well - drain grime because it can develop ancestor rot in wet conditions . This plant prefer more or less acidulous , hummus - rich soils with good deal of organic affair . you may also found mondo grass in loam soil , but ideally , avoid soils that are too sandy and big Lucius DuBignon Clay soils is best
Pruning
There is no need to crop mondo grass during the twelvemonth . It is a very low - maintenance industrial plant that stays evergreen and beautiful through all four seasons . Some gardener like to dress the plant ’ dead leaves in late wintertime because this can boost the plants ’ wellness and encourage some fresh fresh growth .
You should forefend mowing this smoke or pruning it back too much because it can take calendar month or geezerhood to go back if all the ontogeny is cut back fully .
How to Care for Black Mondo Grass
If you take good care of this plant with its grass - same leave then you will have a dense carpet of profuse increment that can seem very attractive . This evergreen plant perennial does n’t want much sweat at all . Here is a quick spirit at how to wish for this plant .
Water
The grass grows best in consistently damp soil , but it should n’t be keep wet all the prison term . Regular wateringwill further healthy growth and help the plant flower well . Even though these plants prefer moist soil , they can be drouth tolerant at time and should be able to hold up little dry charm as long as they are not exposed to extreme heating system .
Sunlight
Black lilyturf prefers fond shade positions with 2 – 6 hours of direct sunlight . In cooler environments , this plant life can be grown in full Dominicus but for drier climates , it is good to establish it where it will receive scores of afternoon shade or the leaf will become scorched .
Temperature and Humidity
This plant tolerates in high spirits humidity grade as long as it still receive good flow of air from its wavy folio . Because of its mellow permissiveness to humidity , it is often used around water system features like fish pond .
These perennial grasses are cold - hardy but can not tolerate freeze temperature . They can handle a bit of light hoar but can be damaged if it bring forth too cold .
Fertilizer
The plant life prefers humus - rich grease with heaps of organic affair and can survive without fertilizer if develop in rich soil . Gardeners only need to add together some plant feed , balanced fertilizer , or compost to support it during its grow season .
Pests and Diseases
Mondo forage is relatively pest- and disease - free , but you may run into some issues if not cared for properly . Here is a quick look at the most common pest and disease to look out for with this type of plant .
Pythium root rot is a case of fungal rot that can occur if the soil is keep too moist . This unremarkably result in sensationalistic and browned leave and your plant can snuff it if the excess water is n’t tighten .
Most insects and diseases tend to avoid these beautiful grasses with their purplish - dark leaves . Snails and slugs can , however , be an emergence because they will chew holes in the leaves . lure lures or pesticide can address this common proceeds pretty quickly .
Black Mondo Grass Companions
The bestcompanion plants for black mondo grassare usually species with bright foliage or blossom people of color . This is because the dark leave-taking of this plant will make anything next to it put up out even more .
Some of the better plant to farm with contraband mondo grass include specie like mouse jennies , ivy geraniums , coral bells , snow - in - the - summer flowers , Japanese perfumed pin , or boxwoods .
Black Mondo Grass Landscaping Ideas
you’re able to utilise black mondo grass to create exciting landscape feature . This plant does well as a ground cover for magniloquent plants and is ideal for creating striking borders or as an edging around pool edge , paseo , or garden beds .
This evergreen perennial is also an ideal plant life to expend in a rock garden or it can be used around water feature film along with other grain - rich and colorful plants .
Common Varieties and Cultivars
Black mondo grass is a assortment of mondo grass ( Ophiopogon japonicus ) . Mondo grass does have quite a few dissimilar varieties but there are only two main cultivars or varieties of the smutty mondo grass variety which let in the following ;
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The unique foliage colouration of fateful mondo grass makes it one of the most interesting industrial plant species to include in your garden . This specimen plant life is idealistic for create all sorts of showy landscape features , and gardeners or landscaper love it because it is so gentle to grow and care for .
We hope our guide makes it a lilliputian mo easier for you to take good care of your plants to grow calamitous mondo Mary Jane that looks attractive and luxuriant throughout the yr .
Image by lenschanger / depositphotos
