Clade Monocots Rank Species | Clade Angiosperms Higher classification Ophiopogon | |
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Similar Ophiopogon, Dwarf lilyturf, Japanese forest grass, Lily turf, Fountain grass | ||
Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens
Ophiopogon planiscapus is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is a small evergreen perennial growing to 20 cm (8 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in)wide. It grows from short rhizomes, and bears tufts of grasslike leaves, from which purple or white flowers emerge in racemes held on short stems above the leaves. It is native to Japan, where it grows on open and forested slopes.
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Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens
Garden use
The cultivar 'Nigrescens' (black mondo, black mondo grass or black lilyturf) is grown as groundcover. Its leaves turn from green to dark purple (black) and can grow to 8 in (203 mm) tall and 1/4 inch wide. The flowers are white to pale lilac. This plant is commonly used in rock gardens or raised beds as an ornamental plant; owing to its dwarf qualities it can be lost in borders. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
There is also a variegated form 'Little Tabby'. This is green with white borders to the leaves.
Propagation
The plants spread by underground stolons with thick fleshy roots making fair sized colonies which can be separated by division in the spring.
