<em>Ophiopogon</em>, snake beard: planting and care

Description and botany

The Ophiopogon is a herbaceous perennial in family Liliaceae, like lily-of-the-valley, native to shaded thickets and wooded areas of China and Japan.

The genus, often confused with Liriope, includes about fifty rootstock-bearing and stoloniferous species, the most common in gardens being Ophiopogon planiscapus also called “Snake’s beard” or “dragon’s beard” and its cultivars such as ‘Nigrescens’ with black, glossy foliage, Ophiopogon japonicus, nicknamed “Japanese lilyturf”, and Ophiopogon jaburan with more arched leaves.

Of rather slow growth but long-lived, it gradually spreads by its fleshy rootstocks or stolons to form small, low, dense tufts, either spreading or more upright of 0.10 to 0.45 m in height, depending on species. In some cultivars, habit can be truly turf-like as with Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Minor’, which will not exceed 10 cm in height.

This gramineous plant forms a persistent groundcover in mild winters, with attractive strappy leaves, plain or variegated, evoking because of their fineness and narrowness the foliage of grasses or a “snake’s beard”!

The fine linear, strap-like and leathery leaves, 5 to 60 cm long with a strongly marked central vein, are more or less arched and take on original colours.

Ophiopogon japonicus – botanical illustration

From pale green to very glossy dark green, purplish-black in ‘Hosoba Kokuryu’ or almost black in Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, leaves can be variegated or streaked with cream-white or gold, nearly hiding the green depending on variety.

In early summer, from this very graphic tuft emerge discreet inflorescences of small bell-shaped flowers reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley, white, pinkish-white or tinted lilac to purple. Grouped in small clusters 4 to 15 cm long on leafless stems, they measure 0.5 to 7 mm in diameter, are composed of 6 campanulate petals and contrast beautifully with foliage.

They are followed by very pretty (but toxic!) fleshy fruits in the form of berries, round to ellipsoidal that persist for some time. Pea-sized, they measure 0.5 to 5 mm in diameter. Shiny, they range according to species across all shades of blue, from bluish-black to vivid blue and even turquoise (‘Minor’), which earned the plant its nickname “Turquoise grass”.

Hardy (-10, -15°C), Ophiopogon can be grown in many regions. It tolerates both non-scorching sun and deep shade at tree bases, and grows in ordinary, fertile, rather slightly acidic, fresh and well-drained soil.

Used alone or planted in groups, it brings an exotic charm to modern gardens as well as more natural spaces and produces a striking effect of colour and movement.

An excellent plant for semi-shade, it will fully play its role as groundcover in a shade garden, as a border in a shady bush bed, in cool woodland understorey, in rock gardens and even in containers.

Ophiopogon planiscarpus ‘Nigrescens’ : stunning black foliage and small bell-shaped flowers

Species and main varieties

About fifty species of ‘Ophiopogons are recorded, the most widespread in our gardens being Ophiopogon planiscapus and Ophiopogon japonicus and their a few essential cultivars offering a pretty range of colours that are solid or in sumptuously variegated tones or subtly cream-striped.

Most popular

Black Ophiopogon - Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens

The only gramineous plant with almost black leaves! Stunning as an edging or in a pot in a small Japanese garden or scree garden!

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 25 cm

See the product sheet

Ophiopogon planiscapus

It will form a compact clump of beautiful strap-like foliage, dark green lit by small pinkish-white bells in summer. To grow as an edging for beds, in a rockery, in pots, tubs or planters in dappled sun or in shade!

• Flowering time August
• Height at maturity 20 cm

See the product sheet

Our favourites

Ophiopogon planiscapus Hosoba Kokuryu

A new Ophiopogon gracile with sublime purplish-black foliage, decorative all year round. It suits all sorts of settings: at the foot of large trees, as an edging for beds, in a shaded rockery, in pots, tubs or planters on a terrace. It works wonders in a scree garden or a small Japanese garden.

• Flowering time August
• Height at maturity 20 cm

See the product sheet

Ophiopogon japonicus

A very turf-forming variety that resembles herb. To install between paving joints or at the edge of a Japanese-style garden.

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 10 cm

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to plant Ophiopogon?

Easy to grow, with correct hardiness (-10, -15°C), although foliage can be damaged by cold, Ophiopogon will be happier in regions with mild winters. Once established, it also offers good resistance to drought.

It is a perennial plant for shade and partial shade, but will tolerate almost any exposure, even sunny, provided soil remains cool.

It will grow faster in preferably non-calcareous soil, slightly acidic, rich in humus, well drained, especially in winter because winter flooding is fatal. It will cope with soil dried out by tree roots and even with clay soil provided it is well drained.

It is the original groundcover for shaded areas of the garden, bringing much lightness and contrast.

Planted singly or in groups by combining several varieties with varied colours, it provides roundness, colour and a touch of exoticism to the humblest setting.

While it fully plays its role as groundcover in a shade garden, in a shady rockery, in paving gaps or as a shaded border, it also establishes well in a heather-soil bed in humus-bearing, cool soil as well as in a cool woodland understorey at the foot of trees where nothing else grows.

Miniature varieties will be perfect in pots.

When to plant Ophiopogon?

Plant Ophiopogon in the garden in spring, from April to May in cold climates once frost risk has passed, or from September to October elsewhere.

How to plant Ophiopogon?

In open ground

Plant Ophiopogon in scattered tufts or in masses of 7 to 9 plants per m2 spaced 20 to 60 cm depending on size and spreading at ripeness, for an attractive decorative groundcover effect year-round in mild climates.

In heavy soils, incorporate coarse sand or gravel to improve drainage.

• Clear soil thoroughly
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times wider than the rootball
• Plant into a mixture of excavated soil enriched with compost
• Firm lightly
• Water generously

In pots

Substrate must be very well draining to avoid moisture stagnating at the roots.

• Place a good layer of drainage (gravel or clay balls) at the bottom of the container
• Plant in a rich mix of potting compost, loam, heather soil and 1/3 coarse sand
• Water
• In cold regions, protect from severe frosts in the bad season by housing in a greenhouse

Care and maintenance

Once planted in fertile, fresh, well-draining soil, Ophiopogon requires almost no maintenance.

In summer, water once a week during prolonged drought.

In a pot, give a few more regular waterings to keep the substrate slightly moist during growth, once or twice a week, allowing it to dry between waterings. In winter, keep nearly dry, without letting the plant dry out.

In the cold season, in regions with harsh winters, even though it is relatively hardy, you can protect it from severe frost by sheltering it in a cold greenhouse.

Elsewhere in the garden, mulch around its base from autumn with a good layer of dead leaves and add leaf mould at the base.

At the very end of summer, tidy the clumps by removing the dry leaves to maintain an elegant appearance.

Frosted foliage of an Ophiopogon planiscarpus ‘Nigrescens’ in winter

Diseases and pests

Very disease-resistant, Ophiopogon is rarely endangered. In spring, its young foliage may, however, suffer slug attacks. Follow our advice to repel these gastropods naturally or make traps!

In a pot, if overwatered, foliage may yellow: in summer, ensure substrate dries out between waterings.

Infestations of red spider mites can occur in a greenhouse if conditions are too dry: regularly spray plants as a preventive measure.

Multiplication

If sowing is possible in autumn, using seeds collected from your Ophiopogons, the quickest and most reliable method remains dividing the clumps or separating stolons in spring on well-established plants.

Dividing Ophiopogon clumps

• Use spade blade to lift the clump and remove rootstocks or leafy stolons bearing as many roots as possible
• Replant divisions immediately into well-prepared soil enriched with well-rotted compost or into buckets

Find more advice in our video “how to divide an ornamental grass”

Companion planting Ophiopogon in the garden

With its graphic appearance, beautiful all year in mild climate, Ophiopogon lends itself to many uses and allows composing original, very colourful scenes. Indispensable in low-maintenance gardens, where it forms all-season carpets of evergreen leaves.

Its graphic appearance is valuable in pared-back contemporary scenes, minimalist gardens and gravel gardens.

An example of a contemporary combination: Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, Heuchera (‘Marmalade’ for example) and Acaena

In colder regions, it adds an exotic note to terraces and balconies.

It is the little groundcover perennial essential for bringing originality to shaded, cool areas of shade gardens alongside spring bulbs and other shade-loving groundcover perennials such as hostas, ferns, pachysandra, bergenias, hardy geraniums, epimediums, vinca minor, heucheras or liriopes muscaris which are just as easy and tolerate the same growing conditions.

At the heart of a planting of heather-soil bushes, its low silhouette will dress the base of Acer or Japanese maple, hydrangeas and magnolias.

A pot-combination idea: foliage of Ophiopogon ‘Hosoba Kokuryu’ contrasts with golden foliage (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’, or why not (Campanula garganica ‘Dickson’s Gold’)), on a backdrop of bamboo (Fargesia murielae ‘Bimbo’, rufa, robusta…)

It is also a marvellous little perennial for a Japanese-style or zen garden alongside Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Bamboos and Nandina.

At edge of a mineral planting, it will keep company with modest-sized grasses such as carex and Japanese grasses or with dwarf bamboos such as Sasa veitchii.

→ Discover other ideas for combining Ophiopogon in Jean-Christophe’s advice sheet!