Black Mondo Grass

Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') is the darkest foliage you can put at ground level, a neat clumping plant around 25cm tall and 30cm wide. The strap leaves emerge deep green and age to near black, a colour no other hardy border plant delivers. Frost hardy and untroubled by heat or humidity, it asks for almost nothing once established, which is why designers keep specifying it.

Why you'll love it

• Colour nothing else matches. The near black straps read as true black against pale gravel, silver foliage or rendered walls, so a simple planting looks deliberate.
• Genuinely compact. At about 25cm tall and 30cm wide it never swamps a border or hides the plants behind it.
• Safe around pets. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can edge paths and lawns where animals wander.
• Hardy across most of the country. Frost hardy, heat tolerant and comfortable in humidity, it performs from cool temperate gardens to the subtropics.
• Quiet flowers, glossy berries. Short sprays of small pale pink and white flowers in summer are followed by shiny black berries.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 20cm apart in a single row along a path or bed edge. The clumps knit into a continuous dark ribbon that holds its line without trimming.

Mass planting and groundcover. Set plants out on a 20cm grid for a continuous dark carpet. It spreads slowly by short rhizomes, so cover thickens each season rather than racing away.

Pots, rockeries and between steppers. The tight habit suits shallow bowls, gaps between pavers and rockery pockets, anywhere black sets off stone or foliage.

Growing Black Mondo Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Sun for most of the day gives the deepest black; in heavier shade the foliage keeps more green. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens, and frost does not bother it.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil with drainage. Work compost through sandy beds, and keep mulch light around the clumps so the crowns stay open.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. A light slow release feed in spring is all it needs.

Pruning. None to speak of. If old foliage looks tired by late winter, shear the clump lightly before the new season's growth.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Black Mondo Grass as tube stock and in 140mm pots supplied as a pack of 10, the practical format for edging and massed planting. Tubes are small starters that establish quickly, while the 140mm plants are fuller clumps that give the effect sooner. Tube stock is periodically listed on backorder between batches.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect a quiet few weeks while roots settle, with fresh growth from spring through summer. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Get to know mondo grass and its uses
• Browse grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Groundcover ideas for between steppers
• More plants safe for pets

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a solid edge?

Space plants 20cm apart. At that spacing the clumps touch within a couple of seasons and read as one continuous dark line. For a faster effect from tubes, tighten to 15cm, though 20cm is the better value.

Is it really black?

Close to it. Leaves emerge dark green and deepen to purple black as they mature, and in the garden it reads as black, especially with sun on the foliage and a pale surface behind it.

Is it safe for pets?

Yes. Black Mondo Grass is not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it a sensible edging choice for gardens where pets have the run of the yard.

How quickly does it spread?

Slowly. It creeps outward by short rhizomes, thickening into a carpet over two to three seasons at 20cm spacing. It will not run into lawns or smother neighbours the way vigorous groundcovers can.