Ophiopogon Japonicus

Note:

Price and Plant sizes can only be shown once you made a selection using the drop down boxes

Photos of plants are a representation of the plant (sometimes at full size) and not of the actual plant on offer.

We show you an image,so you can see what the variant of plant looks like.

It is fairly obvious that if we show you a picture of a large plant, but you select a small one, they will not be the same size.

Your selection of size will determine what size plant you receive based on the pot or planter size you selected. After making your selection using the drop down boxes, please visit the Additional Information Tab to see an estimate plant size based on the packaging dimensions.

Using planter size as size selector is standard practice in the Nursery Industry, as a retail-ready plant is a plant grown to size in the container it populates.

Our plants are always sourced from professional and reputable growers and our plants are of the best quality possible

Description

Ophiopogon japonicus, commonly known as Mondo Grass, Dwarf Lilyturf, or in Japanese as ryu-no-hige (“dragon’s beard”), is a versatile and evergreen groundcover that’s beloved for its lush, grass-like foliage and resilience 🌿.

🌱 Plant Profile

Botanical name: Ophiopogon japonicus
Common names: Mondo Grass, Dwarf Lilyturf, Snake’s Beard
Origin: Native to China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
Foliage: Dark green, leathery, linear leaves (20–40 cm long)
Flowers: Small, white to pale lilac blooms in summer
Fruit: Bright blue berries, about 5 mm in diameter

🌞 Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil; tolerates a range of types
Watering: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established

🌿 Landscape Uses

Excellent for:
- Groundcovers in shaded areas
- Filling gaps between stepping stones
- Underplanting trees and shrubs
- Japanese and Zen gardens

🧠 Bonus Facts

Medicinal use: Known in traditional Chinese medicine as mai men dong, used to nourish yin and clear heat
Aquarium use: Sometimes sold for aquariums, but not truly aquatic—it survives only a few months underwater
Variants: Includes dwarf forms like ‘Kyoto Dwarf’ and variegated types like ‘Silver Mist’