The Ophiopogon japonicusWhich it is a rather peculiar species due to the shape of the plant itself and due to its capacity to be cultivated in a great variety of soils, it is also one of the most requested.
Has it ever happened to you that you want to renew or at least give a different atmosphere to your garden and instead of using the grass that the vast majority know, you want to opt for a different and unique alternative?
General data of the Ophiopogon japonicus
Let’s start by saying that Ophiopogon japonicus it is a perennial plantwhich is native to East Asia or better known as Japan.
And despite being a fairly well-known plant in JapanTo this day, there is not much detailed and reliable information on the flowers of this species. Among one of the things that must be highlighted when it comes to flowers, is that are able to reproduce themselves.
That is, they do not need any type of insect to pollinate them, since it can do it herself thanks to being a plant whose flowers are hermaphroditic. In another sense, it turns out that Ophiopogon japonicus or better known in some parts as dwarf lily, it is a great alternative for those who do not want to use grass.
Of course, planting this species in a garden requires constant shade, this is what differentiates it from grass, in addition to its physical characteristics.
And one of the advantages that you can get from dwarf grass is that only needs to be cut once a yearsomething that is not even remotely possible with the lawn you know, since it constantly needs maintenance.
Regarding the growth of this plant, It should be noted that its growth process is quite slow. And in case you are looking to take advantage of this plant in an ornamental way, you know that you can combine it with rocks, water, make edge bedsamong others.
Now, before moving on to the characteristics of the plant, we are going to give you some of the names apart from the one we already mentioned00
- grass world
- grass world
- Dwarf grass world.
- stables
- Lawn lily.
Notably if your intention is to have this species in your home and / or gardenKnow that it needs shade, although it can grow in semi-shady places. In the same way, the soil where they have to be planted it has to be very well drained while it has to be kept moist.
Features
To be able to make a super fast identification of the plant you have to know three fundamental things which are:
- The leaves of the plant are too narrow. Technically, the width of the sheets does not exceed one inch wide.
- The inflorescence of the Ophiopogon japonicus it is found hidden in a flattened peduncle.
- The fruits that this plant generates have a cobalt blue color.
Now, regarding the general characteristics of the plant, we must begin by saying that it is a species that belongs to the lily familyhas tuberous roots and is a perennial species.
In addition to this, It can grow to between 50 and 80 cm tall and if it is planted closely with others of the same species, it can grow into a very dense shrub.
The leaves are narrow and linearvery similar to that of herbs. As for the color of these leaves, it is usually quite dark green and each leaf can reach a maximum length of 15 inches.
Moving on to what would be the flowers of the plant, these are quite small and they have 6 stepswhich have a very similar appearance to that of a bell. The color of the flowers of the plant is lilac white and its flowering occurs throughout the summer.
The most common is that you see these flowers grow and bloom in those clusters that are the shortest of all. But also you can find its flowers that do not have leaves. Assuming the case that you have the plant and notice that it has flowered, you can easily locate its fruitswhich are berries whose size is equal to that of a pea.
Only in this case, the color is bluish black. You will have to look carefully for the fruit since it is hidden by the density of the foliage.
Care
Like any other species, this one also needs some care and / or needs to be able to grow and develop satisfactorily.
The first need is that you need a soil whose pH is acidicalthough it can also grow if the pH is neutral or alkaline. With regard to the underground part, it can grow better and settle more firmly if the soil has sandy or loamy characteristics.
The good news is that despite needing good drainage, you can keep the earth in a moist or water-soaked state. It is curious how this species needs good drainage, but at the same time it has the ability to live in environments where it is semi-aqueous. Namely, swamp-like environmentsto give you a visual idea.
You can water constantly, but yes, you should not provide too much waterunless factors such as the weather, the sun or the place where it is planted are sufficient to evaporate the water quickly and dry the soil.
If you are wondering exactly what kind of soil this plant needs, you have to understand that the soil has to be very rich in nutrients and have at least a little heartburn.
Its growth is better when there is humus on the earth and it is constantly humid.
Plagues and diseases
Yet no viable and secure information is available on whether there is any pest or disease that can seriously affect this plant.
But what is certain is that despite the conditions in which the Ophiopogon japonicus need to live, this quickly becomes a place where slugs start to appear.
And since the environment is ideal for these animals, rest assured that when they start to appear slugsthe plant itself would be a rich source of food for them. Of the rest, there is not much knowledge in this regard.
If you saw or have seen the photos and images of this plant, you will understand that it is a species that is worth having in your garden. And as you have noticed, does not need to be pruned too many timessince only once a year is enough and that’s it.
