OPHIOPOGON. South and East Asia. Mondo grass, lily turf. Evergreen perennials of the lily family, closely related to the better-known liriopes. They are stoloniferous and form thick carpets, useful for small-scale ground cover. Their leaves are narrow and grasslike, usually dark green in color and lustrous in surface. Flowers are small and arranged in spike-like clusters. They are followed by ornamental, usually blue berries. Sun to medium shade near the coast, part shade elsewhere, reasonably well drained soil, moderate watering. Hardiness varies.
clarkei (evidently an invalid name; possibly a form of O. japonicus). One of the smaller mondos, with leaves and stems up to 1’ long. Appearance and uses are much like those of the better-known O. japonicus, below. Probably 10oF. or less.
japonicus. A slowly spreading carpet with dark green, narrow leaves up to 10" long. The pale lavender flowers are nearly obscured by the leaves. A recent selection is ‘Silver Mist’, distinguished by narrow cream margins around otherwise dark green leaves.
planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’. An interesting subject for containers and rock gardens. The leaves are strap shaped and 6-12" long. They emerge dark green, quickly becoming almost black, and have a lustrous surface. The small creamy blossoms, appearing in loose spikes in summer, are not showy but they develop into shiny blackish berries. 15oF. or below.