Ophiopogon planiscapus

Ophiopogon planiscapus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
clade:	Angiosperms
clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Nolinoideae
Genus:	Ophiopogon
Species:	O. planiscapus
Binomial name
Ophiopogon planiscapus

Ophiopogon planiscapus, Black Mondo Grass, Ebony Knight^[1] or Nigrescens, is a small ground cover evergreen perennial. It grows from short rhizomes, and bears tufts of leaves, from which flowers emerge in racemes held on short stems above the leaves. Its leaves turn from green to dark purple (black) and can grow to 8 inches and 1/4 inch wide. This plant is commonly used in rock gardens or raised beds as an ornamental plant; owing to its dwarf-like qualities it can be lost in borders.

O. planiscapus is native to Korea and Japan, where it grows on open and forested slopes.^[2] It has no insect or disease problems.

There is also a variegated form Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Little Tabby'. This is green with white borders to the leaves.

Growth

It is an evergreen perennial plant. The leaves are linear and it can grow up to 8 inches tall (20 cm) and 12 inches spread (30 cm). The flowers are white to pale lilac, which come from a short raceme rising slightly above the foliage. Fruits are capsule shaped and contain dull blueish black seeds.^[2] In warmer regions its foliage remains attractive throughout the season though in colder regions its foliage may deteriorate during winters. This plant grows well in full sun or partial shade, well-drained, acidic and slightly humus soil.

Propagation

The plants spread by underground stolons with thick fleshy roots making fair sized colonies which can be separated by division in the spring.

References

1. ^ Southeast Home Landscaping By Roger Holmes, Rita Buchanan pg 215
2. ^ ^{a b} When Perennials Bloom: An Almanac for Planning and Planting By Tomasz Aniśko pg 342

External links

• Gardening help
• BBC Gardening
• O. Planiscapus
• Shot Gardening