Description
Ophiopogon – Mondo Grass – Snakebeard – Lilyturf –
There are about 50 species of long lived, evergreen, rhizomatous or tufted perennial in this genus. They often have swollen, fleshy roots, sometimes also stoloniferous, and occur from shady scrub or woodland in Eastern Asia, especially China and Japan. They are grown for their dense tufts of somewhat grass like leaves. In summer they bears racemes of numerous small, 6 tepaled, semi spherical to bell shaped, pinkish, white or blue through to purple flowers held on leafless stems. Flowers are followed by spherical to oblong-ellipsoid, glossy, berry like, blue or black fruits, each contain a single seed. Grow as a grass like groundcover, for border edging, or in a rock garden.
Grow in moist but well drained, slightly acidic, fertile, humus rich soil in full sun or partial shade. Divide in spring when growth resumes.
Prone to root rots, leaf spots, slugs and snails.
O. jaburan ‘White Dragon’ – Jaburan Lily – White Lily Turf – This popular tufted, stoloniferous perennial grows 24″ tall and 12″ wide. It produces strap shaped, leathery, dark green leaves boldly striped with white, almost obliterating the green, to 24″ long and ½” wide. In late summer it bears short bell shaped, white or lilac tinted flowers, ½” long, held in racemes, to 6″ long, and occasionally curled. Flowers are followed by oblong-ellipsoid, shiny deep blue fruit, ½” long.
Zones 7-10
