Mondo grass, Dwarf lilyturf, Monkey grass, Fountainplant
Family
Asparagaceae (asparagus family)
Origin
China, India, Japan, Nepal and Vietnam
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
40 cm
Temperature
5–25°C
Care level
expert
Lighting
Full sun to part shade (grown out of water)
Care
Warning: Mondo grass is a land (or at most bog) plant, not a true aquatic plant. Kept fully underwater it slowly weakens and dies, often over several months, so it is best grown emersed in a paludarium or with only its roots in water. Ophiopogon japonicus (mondo grass) is an evergreen, turf-forming perennial from East and South Asia, widely planted as garden ground cover. It forms tufts of dark green, grass-like leaves 20–40 cm long; dwarf cultivars such as 'Compactus' and 'Kyoto Dwarf' stay only 4–5 cm tall and are the forms most often sold for aquaria. It is very hardy (dormant plants survive about −20 °C) and grows in sun or part shade. Its tough leaves can last a surprisingly long time underwater, which is why it is sold as an aquarium plant, but it does not thrive there and eventually declines. Use it in the land area of a paludarium or as a garden or pond-edge plant. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiopogonjaponicus); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.
Breeding
Divide clumps or separate side shoots and replant them.
Compatibility and tank mates
Do not sell or buy this as a true aquarium plant. It belongs in a paludarium, terrarium or on a windowsill with its roots in water, out of reach of fish.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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