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How quickly does mondo grass grow

Author

Sarah Scott

Published Apr 02, 2026

Standard mondo grass reaches a mature spread up to 1 foot wide within a year or two, but dwarf mondo grass needs two to three years under ideal conditions to reach its spread of 3 to 4 inches.

Is mondo grass slow growing?

Mondo grass is a slow growing plant that can be easily propagated by division and requires minimal care once established.

Does mondo grass make a good lawn?

Mondo Grass Lawns As this plant is incredibly resilient, they make a very good ground cover for large areas too. Using mondo grass as a turf lawn replacement is a popular option, especially in areas with a more desert climate.

Is mondo grass easy to grow?

Growing Conditions for Mondo Grass The plants require very little maintenance, and this characteristic makes them ideal for growing in hard-to-reach areas of the yard, such as slopes. The plants also do well in the shade of trees, and they continue to grow well, even without direct sunlight.

How fast does black mondo grass grow?

Black mondo grass is slow-growing and even slower to germinate, taking up to three months or to more to sprout from seed. It’s best to plant it in spring to ensure solid establishment before the first winter.

Does mondo grass grow in the shade?

When it comes to light exposure, mondo grass is not too picky. The most common green varieties can take pretty much anything from full sun to full shade. … Full sun is essential for the deep black-leaved varieties. The more shade, the more green the black will become.

How far apart should you plant mondo grass?

Mondo Grass Spacing Plant 4 to 12 inches apart in mass plantings or when planted as an edging. The closer you plant each plug, the faster it will fill in for complete coverage. You should also stagger between rows for the best coverage.

Can you trim mondo grass?

Mondo Grass does not require pruning though you can give it an annual pruning or mowing in late winter, before new spring growth begins to emerge.

Will mondo grass choke out weeds?

If you are patient, dwarf mondo grass is another great choice; it will give you deep green color all year and choke out most weeds once it is established.

Is mondo grass invasive?

Is Mondo Grass Invasive? Mondo grass is described as invasive because it is hard to control its spread or get rid of it. In many southern states, Mondo grass is considered invasive and grows through turf lawns and gardens.

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Can I walk on mondo grass?

Dwarf mondo grass can tolerate being walked on every now and then, but regular foot traffic will destroy it. If you’ll need to walk through an area planted with mondo grass, install stepping stones or another type of path. … Because it’s small and slow growing, dwarf mondo grass performs well as a houseplant.

What is the shortest mondo grass?

Mondo Grass dot COM Purchase online. This ornamental grass is our smallest grass, growing only 1 1/2 inches tall! Works nicely with smaller flower beds, indoor planting and bonsai arrangements.

Can you transplant mondo grass?

Mondo grass—which is technically not a grass but a member of the lilac family—is a warm weather grass that is easy to transplant and takes over a yard relatively quickly, crowding out all other grasses and weeds. … Water the area thoroughly every other day for 6 days to encourage the growth of weeds and other vegetation.

Is black mondo grass invasive?

That would be so-called ‘black Mondo grass’, which despite its common name, is a different species of plant within the Ophiopogon genus. … Ah, but some other members of the Ophiopogon genus, like Aztec grass, are aggressive and highly invasive. Be careful you don’t get one of them mislabeled as Mondo.

Does black mondo grass need sun or shade?

Outstanding fine textured color in containers. Water regularly to maintain evenly moist soil – weekly, or more often. Thrives in humus-rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils. Takes cool sun; needs bright shade in hot climates.

Should black mondo grass be cut back?

Lush, healthy mondo grass doesn’t need annual pruning to keep it looking its best. Only when drought, a severe winter or other seasonal woes causes foliage to look tattered would you need to consider pruning it. Pruning may be necessary only every other spring or every third spring.

What can I plant with mondo grass?

Planting: Plant mondo grass from spring through fall in well-drained soil. Companions: Plant with ferns, impatiens, liriope, and begonia; black mondo grass is especially showy next to light colored foliage like Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’, blue fescue, and lime or bronze heuchera.

Will deer eat mondo grass?

Examples of ornamental grasses deer might eat include bamboo, bottlebrush grass, drooping sedge, dwarf mondo grass, ribbon grass, and sedge. … Other popular grasses, such as big bluestem, blue fescue, and feather reed grass are rarely eaten by deer.

Is mondo grass low maintenance?

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon) is a robust, low-growing leafy plant that is an excellent substitute for turfgrass. The benefits of planting mondo grass are that it’s low-maintenance, grows in the shade, doesn’t take over gardens, and stays green all year long.

Is mondo grass Hardy?

Mondo Grass is a hardy plant and requires low care. They look amazing when planted en masse as a ground cover and to fill in gapes in and around pathways. They also look good when planted under trees, in front of borders as edging plants and grown in pots.

Why is my mondo grass dying?

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) that becomes discolored or grows poorly might be suffering from root rot. This dark green, grassy perennial grows best in moist, freely draining soil. Poor drainage and overwatering cause root rot, and slugs and snails can also attack mondo grass, causing wilting.

Can you grow mondo grass in pots?

Intro: Mondo grass and dwarf mondo grass are grown as ground covers, and if you want to cover some bare space in a plant container (such as underneath a tree), mondo grass is a great container plant choice. This “grass” never needs to be mowed, and it grows in little round mounds.

What kills mondo grass?

If you want to get rid of monkey grass, the only way to control it is to use a product that contains glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up. Be careful spraying Round-Up in your lawn as it is a non-selective herbicide and will kill both the Liriope and your desired grass.

Why is my mondo grass going yellow?

A bacterial disease that causes burnt-looking leaf tips, yellowing leaves and rotting roots, pythium root rot is a serious disease in miniature mondo grass that often develops in heavy soils with poor drainage. Biological pesticides control Pythium splendens, the bacteria that causes the disease.

How often should you water mondo grass?

Water the dwarf mondo grass thoroughly when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil becomes dry, usually every 10 to 14 days. Never allow the soil to become soggy, instead water to keep it evenly moist. Stop applying water during the winter when new growth has slowed or stopped.

Does mondo grass need fertilizer?

Used as a ground cover, mondo grass spreads through underground stolons and tuberous roots, or rhizomes, and typically its large clumps are divided and transplanted to create new plantings. Drought-resistant and low-maintenance, mondo grass requires minimal fertilizer to flourish.

Is mondo grass toxic to cats?

I can’t tell you that mondograss is definitely NOT toxic to cats. … It is not unusual for cats to consume grasses and other such plants and then regurgitate to remove something from their stomach. Ask you vet about this and perhaps he could offer some other possible causes.

What eats mondo grass?

Rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels will all happily munch on your mondo grass.

Is mondo grass the same as monkey grass?

In so far as ‘monkey grass’ is often the terminology used for liriope, then yes, which is confusing since mondo grass is also called ‘monkey grass’ and yet liriope and mondo grass are not the same at all. In fact, they aren’t even grasses. Both are members of the Lily family.

Is mondo grass OK for dogs?

Don’t use pet droppings after a worming treatment as it will kill garden worms, too. Some plants, such as mondo grass, can be • killed by dog wee, so be careful about which plants you use where dogs frequently “go”. whether they’ll be left at home alone for long periods.

Can you plant black mondo grass in full sun?

Plant black mondo grass in rich, well-draining soil, and space 3″ apart for a quicker spread if using as a ground cover. … In hot areas plant in part sun, in Northern climates plant in full sun.