Ophiopogon planiscapus f. leucanthus

RHS Plant Profile
white-flowered mondo grass

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Ophiopogon planiscapus f. leucanthus?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Grass Like Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

An evergreen, rhizomatous perennial, producing dense, slowly spreading clumps of arching, narrowly strap-shaped, leathery dark green leaves to 30cm long. Short stems bear clusters of small, bell-shaped white flowers in summer, followed by spherical blue-black berries

Position

Full sun, Partial shade, Full shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming, Tufted
Genus
Ophiopogon are rhizomatous or tufted evergreen perennials forming clumps of leathery, narrowly strap-shaped leaves, with racemes of small bell-shaped white or mauve flowers on leafless stems in summer, followed by glossy black berries
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Tolerates a range of soils and conditions, but thrives in rich, moist but well-drained, slightly acid soil in light shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring as growth resumes, or by seed sown as soon as ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Ground cover
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required, dead leaves can be combed or raked out in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to damage from slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free