Mondo Grass: Groundcover for shady areas

Readers, let’s play a game. I want you to raise your hand if you have at least one large shade tree somewhere in your yard. It doesn’t matter what kind of shade tree. It could be an oak, a maple, perhaps a tulip poplar. I’m imagining there are quite a few hands raised. Now keep your hand raised if you’ve ever tried to grow grass underneath one of these shade trees. Many of you still have your hands raised. Now I want those of you who have had success growing grass directly under one of these shade trees to keep your hands raised, and anyone who hasn’t been successful can put them down. Does anyone still have their hand raised?  Not many, I’d imagine.

Grass simply doesn’t do well in shade. Sure, there are some types such as St. Augustine, certain varieties of Zoysia, perhaps creeping Red Fescue, that have that have a little more shade tolerance than most grass species, but even these grasses will struggle in dense shade. Yet, so many of you insist on having something green at the base of these trees rather than creating a bed of pine straw or bark mulch.

If you simply must have something green in these spots, why not try Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon japonicas?  Despite having grass in its name, Mondo Grass is not a true grass but rather a herbaceous broadleaf evergreen groundcover. Unlike our traditional turf grasses, Mondo Grass is not only shade tolerant but truly prefers shade, and likes moist well-drained soil. Individual plants grow to a height of about one foot high by one foot wide, and spread by runners, forming a dense mat of foliage over time. One foot high, you say? Why that’s way too tall for any grass in your yard. Don’t worry, there’s a dwarf version that grows 3 to 6 inches tall, still a bit higher than Bermuda or Centipede, but essentially in the range of all of those Fescue lawns in the Piedmont.

Above, left: Mondo Grass can be used for decorative designs and footpaths. Photo: J. Robbins, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Above, right: This groundcover spreads by runners, forming a dense mat of foliage over time. Photo: F. & K. Starr, CC BY 2.0 Below, right: Mondo Grass produces short pale pink or white flowers in the summer.  Photo: L. Enking, CC-BY-SA 2.0

Mondo Grass bears some resemblance to Liriope, another grass-like plant that could be used as a turf alternative but is more often used as edging in flower beds. Liriope is often referred to by the common name Lilyturf, while Mondo Grass is sometimes called Dwarf Lilyturf. Both are members of the asparagus family, believe it or not. If shopping for either plant, be sure to double check the labels to make sure you’re buying what you want, as the similarity in name and appearance can be deceiving.

Mondo Grass produces a relatively inconspicuous flower in the summer time, a short raceme of pale pink to white that grows to 2 to 4 inches long and is often hidden in the foliage. While you may mow the rest of your lawn once a week, Mondo Grass does not need to be cut regularly, though established plants are not bothered by being mowed. If using as a turf alternative for shade, plan to mow once per year in late winter/early spring simply to remove older or dying foliage, and perhaps one or two other times if you desperately want to control its height or conceal any potential flowers.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardeners at [email protected] or 252-902-1705.