Ophiopogon plan. Niger

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ (black mondo grass) is a slow-growing, evergreen, clump-forming perennial prized for its striking, near-black, arching foliage that adds bold contrast at the front of borders, along paths, in containers, or as underplanting. In summer it produces small, bell-shaped, pale lilac flowers, followed by glossy black berries. Grow in sun or partial shade for best leaf colour, in a moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Low-maintenance; simply remove any tatty leaves in spring. Typically reaches about 20cm tall and 30cm across, and is fully hardy in Irish gardens.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Sun or partial shade

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist but well-drained, moderately fertile, humus-rich

Hardiness: Fully hardy

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Plant at a Glance