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perennial

Black mondo grass 'Nigrescens'

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'

Preview: plant data is awaiting horticulturist review. A professional horticulturist hasn't reviewed our plant table yet. Lists still follow fixed rules for zone, sun, pets, deer and invasive status.

Black mondo grass 'Nigrescens' is a slow-growing evergreen perennial hardy in zones 6–9. It grows 6–9 in tall and 0.75–1 ft wide, so plant it 0.75 ft apart. Give it part sun to shade and average water. It flowers pink in July. In a FloraVista list it usually plays the grass role: a grass-like plant with narrow leaves that adds fine texture in the middle of the bed. Deer usually leave it alone, and it is not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Our rules leave it out of lists in the Desert Southwest, where summer heat, humidity or mild winters hold it back even inside its zone range.

Facts from our plant table

Botanical name
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Plant type
Perennial, evergreen
Hardiness zones
6 to 9
Sun
Part sun (4–6 hours); Part shade (2–4 hours); Shade (under 2 hours)
Water
Medium
Soil
Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil.
Mature size
6–9 in tall × 0.75–1 ft wide
Spacing
0.75 ft apart (centre to centre)
Growth rate
Slow
Bloom
Jul · pink
Roles in a bed
Grass, Edge
Styles
modern, classic
Deer resistance
High: deer rarely eat it
Pets
Not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Mondo grass is generally reported non-toxic; this species was not individually confirmed on the ASPCA list.
Native to
Not native to the US (or a garden hybrid)
Pot size and price
quart pot, typically $8–$14 (sometimes stocked)
Plant in
Spring or Fall
First-year watering
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first summer, more in heat; keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Established plants need water only in dry spells.
Pruning
Remove tattered leaves by hand in spring.

Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; state extension service fact sheets; ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list; Rutgers NJAES deer resistance ratings; state extension service; Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States; state noxious weed and invasive plant lists; US garden-centre and home-improvement retail listings (general knowledge, 2026 estimate). Not yet reviewed by a horticulturist.

Good companions

The plants our list engine most often puts in the same bed as Black mondo grass 'Nigrescens', across the sun, zone, pet, deer and style combinations it fits.

If you can't find it

Plants that do the same job and pass the same rules for the conditions Black mondo grass 'Nigrescens' suits.

How this page was made

This page was generated from this plant's record in FloraVista's plant table by fixed rules. The companions and substitutes come from the lists our rules engine composes. No named expert has reviewed this page.

Data status: the plant table is awaiting review by a horticulturist. Check each plant with a local nursery or extension office before you buy.

Sources

  • Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, state extension services and the USDA PLANTS database (zones, size, sun, water, bloom, native range)
  • ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists (dog and cat toxicity)
  • Rutgers NJAES and regional extension deer-resistance ratings
  • State noxious-weed and invasive-plant lists and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US
  • Typical US garden-centre listings (pot size and price band)

Generated . How FloraVista chooses plants