Mondo Grass
If you are looking for an easy care ornamental grass, then Mondo Grass could be the answer. It requires no mowing, grows well in part shade and maintenance is minimal.
These grasses are ‘Ophiopogon’ species, and are used widely as a border in landscaping applications. Dwarf Mondo Grass or ‘Ophiopogon japonica’ is popular in garden beds as a filler between other plantings. Available for sale online, usually as smaller plants or plugs, this is an excellent way to buy large enough quantities to plant out a large area.
With a number of varieties available for sale, choices can be made in height as well as in foliage color.
Available from nurseries, small plants are sold in pack of 12 to 24, these established clumps are economical however not the cheapest way to buy plants. Larger plants in pots will establish an area more quickly.
Black Mondo grass Ophiopogon-planiscapus-‘Nigrescens’ is used extensively as a feature border, with its black strap like foliage it looks great as a contrast plant. Mondo grass is suitable for use between pavers or as a border, try the Giant Mondo Grass Ophiopogon jaburan.
How many Ophiopogon plants per metre ?
When you are purchasing mondo grass it is available as established clumps or as single plants. If you are looking at spacing for Mondo Grass it will depend on the variety and if you are buying plugs (sprigs) or pots. The cheapest way is to buy plugs and space them at around 20 cm apart. This will take time to fill in, so you can mulch in between in the meantime.
For faster establishment, these smaller plants will need to purchased at 300 per square metre for mass planting. For linear or edge planting, single row, look at 30 plants per metre. These single plants are the cheapest way to establish a larger area.
Remember that Mondo grass will spread. It spreads slowly by underground rhizomes or runners, so over time it can cover a large areas fairly densely.
Care
Mondo Grass or Ophiopogon is a hardy drought tolerant clump forming grass. Care of mondo grass is simple, the main problem being frosts. Mondo grass does not need pruning and does not require a lot in terms of fertilizer.
Mondo Grass is available for sale from the following Growers
442 Russells Road, Pine Mountain Ipswich QLD 4306 - phone: 07 54643976
Pine Mountain Nursery is a mail order plant nursery and also specialises in breeding elite agapanthus, clivia and other warm climate bulbs.
www.pinemountainnursery.com.au
Online and Retail Melbourne and Geelong based garden centres. Check out their large range of indoor and outdoor plants, Australian Natives, Fruit Trees and Edibles, Succulents, Gardenias, Camellias, Hydrangeas plus a full range garden products for delivery in Melbourne.
www.diacos.com.au
412 James Lane, Fern Hill VIC. 3458 - Phone 0419002651
Large range of Rare plants, Climbers, Bulbs, Perennials Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. Available both Retail and by Mail Order
www.whitehousenursery.com.au