Mondo grass

Questions about mondo grass

Does mondo grass need sun or shade?

Mondo grass grows in part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun), part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning) and shade (less than 2 hours of direct sun, or bright dappled light). It is one of the few that also put up with deep shade.

It wants ordinary well-drained soil, of average fertility, and a good soak in dry spells.

What zones does mondo grass grow in?

USDA zones 6 to 10. It is hardy to zone 6, which means it survives winter nights down to about 0 °F (−18 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

How far apart should mondo grass be planted?

8 in (20 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 12 in (30 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 8 in (20 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many mondo grass plants do I need?

At 8 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 27 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 16 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 86 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as threes and fives, along the front and just behind it.

In the bed above, the planner used 19 in five groups.

Is mondo grass poisonous to dogs and cats?

No toxicity is recorded for dogs, cats, horses or people, according to NC State Extension.

"Not toxic" is not "edible": a pet that eats a lot of any plant can be sick.

Is there a native plant like mondo grass?

Mondo grass comes from China, Korea, Japan. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Wild ginger: the same job in a bed and the same size; bold leaves, not fine, not evergreen.
• Dwarf crested iris: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late April to mid May, medium leaves, not fine.
• Woodland stonecrop: the same job in a bed; 4 in shorter, flowers late April to late May.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat mondo grass?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to deer and rabbits. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

What does mondo grass look like in winter?

Mondo grass keeps its dark green leaves all winter, so it is one of the plants that hold a bed together from November to March, when the perennials have gone.