Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Mondo Grass, Fountain Plant, Monkey Grass

Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus Family)

Distribution: Asia

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Hardiness: 6a

Life form: Evergreen perennial

Comments: Mondo grass is an evergreen perennial that is actually a member of the lily family despite its appearance. The leaves resemble turf grass, and emerge in clumps from a network of rhizomes that grow just below the soil surface. With age the clumps will merge to form a soft dense carpet of foliage. Its flowers and berries are of little ornamental value as they are covered by the dense foliage. Mondo grass is very useful as a ground cover for shady areas, and the dense mat of roots holds the ground very well where runoff is a problem.