Ophiopogon japonicus

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Ophiopogon japonicus


Plant Characteristics
Habit   grass

Lifespan: perennial
Origin: Japan
Cultivation
Exposure: sun, part-sun
Water: wet, moist, moderate, dry
Features: foliage
USDA Zones: 7 to 12
Scientific Names

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japonicus >


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It is an evergreen, sod-forming perennial plant. The leaves are linear, 20–40 cm long. The flowers are white to pale lilac, borne in a short raceme on a 5–10 cm stem. The fruit is a blue berry 5 mm diameter.[1]

It is also grown as an ornamental plant, providing an excellent groundcover. Several cultivars have been selected, including 'Albus' (white flowers), 'Compactus' and 'Kyoto Dwarf' (dwarf forms, not over 4–5 cm tall), and 'Silver Dragon' (variegated, with white-striped leaves). It is often sold as a decorative plant for freshwater aquaria, but because it is not a true aquatic plant, it may flourish for a few months and then die. While hardy to temperatures of about -20 °C when dormant in winter outdoors in normal soil, when kept fully submerged it requires water temperatures of 18-25 °C. It grows well in full sun or partial shade.


Read about Ophiopogon japonicus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Ophiopogon japonicus, Ker. Perennial stemless glabrous herb, with a stoloniferous rhizome: fibrous roots long, slender, often nodulose: root-lvs. numerous, erect, narrowly linear, ½-1 ft., and 1-1½ lines wide, 5-7-nerved: scape 2-4 in. long; raceme lax, few-fld., 2-3 in. long, the lower fls. in groups of 2-3; fls. drooping, violet- purple to lilac or more or less whitish. Japan, Korea, N. China. Var. variegatus, Hort., has variegated foliage.


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Cultivation

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Propagation

Propagation is from side shoots.[1][2]

Pests and diseases

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Species

Gallery

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References

External links


  1. 1.0 1.1 Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  2. Hiscock, P. (2003). Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants. Interpret Press.