Dwarf lilyturf, or mondo grass, is a broadleaf evergreen ground cover or ornamental grass in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) and is native to Japan, Korea and China. It may grow up to 1 foot tall and wide, is grass-like and has a low mounding form. Its genus name is from the Greek word ophis , meaning snake, and pogon , meaning beard. This plant prefers shade and moist, well-drained soils. It is sun tolerant, highly salt-tolerant and resists deer and foot traffic. As an evergreen groundcover, it forms a mat by runners (stolons). As a turf alternative for shady areas, it should be mowed yearly. Propagate through division. Use dwarf lilyturf as a border, at the foundation, along walkways or patios or in place of lawn. It makes a soft ground cover in a children’s garden or a decorative filler for a container outdoors or indoors with houseplants. Quick ID Hints: Leaves are very narrow and less than an inch wide. Inflorescence is hidden and the peduncle is flattened. Fruits are cobalt blue. Grass-like groundcover, mounding, stoloniferous. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This plant is relatively pest free but its foliage can be disfigured by slugs.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are simple, entire, linear, grass-like, erect arching apically, are dark green, and grow up to 16" long and less than an inch wide.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are few, nodding, pale lilac to white, and hang loosely on a raceme. Raceme's are short (2-4" long), flattened, and are hidden in foliage. Rachis are lateral on the flattened peduncle. Flowers bloom in the summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit is a globose berry, opalescent or metallic blue in color, less than an inch in diameter, and are hidden in the foliage.
Stem detail
Stems have lateral underground stolons that terminate in daughter plants and are mat-forming by runners.