Groundcover
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' · Asparagaceae
Also called: Dwarf Lilyturf, Dwarf Monkey Grass
Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana') is a moderate-water groundcover well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow-growing groundcover.
Dwarf Mondo Grass at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Partial to full shade in Tucson; needs protection from hot afternoon and reflected sun, which bleaches and burns the foliage. Morning sun/north-east exposures only.
- Mature size
- 2-4 in tall, slowly spreading by stolons to form a turf-like mat.
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- Tiny pale lilac to white flowers (often hidden in foliage), followed by blue berries, Summer; grown for evergreen grassy foliage, not flowers.
- Cold hardiness
- USDA 7-11; very cold hardy (to about 0-10 F), so Tucson winters are not a limiting factor - summer heat and sun are.
- Soil
- Prefers well-drained soil amended with organic matter; tolerates a range but resents soggy or extremely poor desert soil.
- Native range
- Japan, Korea, China
- Best used as
- Shady groundcover and lawn substitute (light traffic), Filler between stepping stones, Border edging in courtyards and atriums, Underplanting beneath trees/shrubs
- Wildlife
- Minimal wildlife value; berries occasionally taken by birds.
- Toxicity
- Berries and plant parts considered low toxicity but may cause mild GI upset if eaten by pets; generally low concern.
How to grow Dwarf Mondo Grass in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Keep soil consistently moist; not drought tolerant in the low desert. Water every 3-5 days in summer, less in winter. Avoid letting it dry out completely.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeding with a balanced or slow-release fertilizer in spring; supplement with iron/micronutrients to counter chlorosis in alkaline soil.
Pruning & care
Very low maintenance; mow or shear off winter-tattered foliage in late winter/early spring to refresh. Divide clumps to spread.
Notes
A shade-and-water-dependent groundcover in Tucson - succeeds only in protected, irrigated, shaded microclimates such as courtyards and north exposures. Slow to fill in. Evergreen, fine-textured, turf-like appearance.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Pima County Master Gardeners; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder (cultural data)