Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Japan
Types
Perennial
Ophiopogon japonicus, Ophiopogon planiscapus
Number of Varieties
5050
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Damp shady woods, foothill woods, Lowland
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-106-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm10.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm2.30 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Indigo, Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Root Division
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Regular watering during dry periods
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Asthma
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antipyretic, Antiscrophulatic, Antitussive, Aphrodisiac
Part of Plant Used
Root
Root
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
useful as a ground cover
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
OPHIOPOGON japonicus
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Mondo grass, lily turf, snakebeard
In Hindi
African Iris
Mondo Grass
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Mondo Grass
In French
African Iris
Mondo Grass
In Spanish
Iris africano
Ophiopogon planiscapus
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Mondo Grass
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Mondo Grass
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Mondo Grass
In Latin
African Iris
Mondo Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Liliales
Family
Iridaceae
Liliaceae
Genus
Dietes
Ophiopogon
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
30050
1
27800
👆🏻