Plant · P-172

Mondo Grass

Ophiopogon japonicus

Mondo Grass forms a dense, grass-like evergreen mat that works as a genuine lawn substitute in shade, where ordinary turf will not hold, and unlike many groundcovers it takes foot traffic well. Its roots are the traditional Chinese herb mai men dong, used for dry cough, fever, thirst and insomnia, and are also edible, mucilaginous and starchy, though sources disagree on whether they taste bitter or sweet. It needs shade to keep its color - full sun bleaches the leaves - and grows best in sandy, well-drained soil; strongly alkaline clay is close to the edge of what it tolerates, so it is worth trialing in an amended bed before committing a whole shaded path to it.