PlantFiles: Black Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon planiscapus

We haven't had any slug, insect or disease problems with this plant in the four years we've been growing it. Following are a "gothic garden" built on this plant and my method of propagating it - as mentioned above, it's expensive.

The narrow-leaved, black mondo grass, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'nigrescens', makes eery, low, dark pools that are nice to nestle spooky sculpture in, or run around in streams connecting larger islands like "black flowered" forms of pennisetum, or for underplanting shady woody plants, especially those with sinewy, orange-ish bark (forms of stewartia, paper-barked maple, crepe myrtles come to mind) that echo the red tint in the ophiopogon's black leaves in winter.

There's a smaller, less-likely-to-flop form of white colchicum that could underplant this black ophiopogon with its alabaster flowers popping up through the black threads in late summer (or a later blooming white crocus).

There's something about box that adds a flavor of a lost, abandoned garden, so extending the theme of "structural bones" for a gothic garden, I would include that, too. Especially in a small garden, a "grove" of, say, 3 or 5 narrow, vertical columns of Buxus 'Graham Blandy' would inject just the right hint of something monolithic, ancient. There are other fastigate woodies that could be substituted for this particular sculptural effect.

When used for a garden's "bones", the woodies are just the right plants to double up for off-season interest, so perhaps some odd-numbered groups of low, mounding woodies placed on an outer verge, opposite the viewer, for a "cradling effect" could be winter-flowering Viburnum bodnantse 'Dawn', faced down with the dwarf quince 'Cameo' might be nice for winter posies (not black, but does summer have to know what winter does?). Black flowered hellebores would be wonderful underplanting for this group, perhaps around a bird bath.

A gothic garden also should have fragrant vines flinging about for creepy effects - I wouldn't leave jasmine out, although containing the horizontally wandering shoots of some can be quite a tussle, but worth it for the schnozz. Against dark, black leaves, the pale peach-apricot noisette hybrid, Desprez a fleur jaune (1830) - fragrant and always in bloom - would be something wonderful to walk under (farther north, there is a wild-ish, pale blush-pink rambler that repeats with fragrant clusters of single roses - just the right mood for this garden. It was bred not too long ago and is worth looking for.).

About propagation of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'nigrescens' - this plant is expensive. Here is how I multiply it in my garden:

I either poke the mature seeds in the ground among the "mother" plants or in a cold frame in late autumn, which is when I get around to it.

There probably could be more to it, but this allows me to outsmart my disorganized self. This method gives you far more plants in a shorter time than propagating by division would. A few seedlings will be green, but most will be black.

Has anyone living in an area with Red Lily Leaf Beetle infestation tried to grow this plant? I have wanted to ever since I first saw it about 7 years ago; but it is so expensive I'm afraid to try for fear it will get eaten! (I suspect that if snails and slugs will eat it, the Lily Leaf Beetle will too.) I asked around at several nurseries and no one could give me an answer.

I've only seen this plant at a rare plant nursery in Peachtree City, Georgia, listed as 'Nigrescens,' and I was told it is a slow grower. It was also rather pricey, but a very dramatic looking plant. I have never seen it for sale in any other garden center, but if I ever do, I will certainly buy it, as I now have the perfect climate for it in northcentral Florida, zone 8b.

I'm currently growing Ophiopogon japonicus, the dark green "Mondo Grass" with light lilac flowers that are low and almost hidden among the leaves. Ophiopogon jaburan also has dark green leaves, but more upright white flowers--I'm looking for this one too!

I am able to grow this in my Zone 5A/4B garden on the south side of my home in a protected area. It's great - it multiplies - it flowers - and everyone wants it because it's so unusual around here!

Does well in pots in full sun or half shade provided it is not allowed to dry out. A plant full of interest due to it's unusual, blackish foliage.

Protect from snails and slugs. Plant at 8 inches interval. Divide in early spring.