Ophiopogon intermediusLilyturf

Dry shade is the hardest brief in planting design, and Ophiopogon intermedius is one of the few plants that answers it without complaint. Narrow arching dark green leaves form a low tuft that spreads slowly by short stolons into an even, weed-suppressing mat.

Small lilac-white flowers appear on short stems among the foliage in summer, followed by blue-black berries, but this is a plant grown for texture and permanence rather than for display.

Specifications

• Height0.2 to 0.4 metres
• Width0.3 to 0.5 metres, spreading slowly by stolon
• Native toThe Himalaya, southern China and mainland Southeast Asia
• FoliageNarrow, arching, dark green strap leaves in dense low tufts; evergreen
• Growth rateSlow to moderate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers moist, free-draining soil with organic content and tolerates poor ground once established
• LightPartial to deep shade, and full sun in cooler climates
• WaterLow to moderate; drought-tolerant once established, including in dry shade
• ClimateThrives in subtropical, warm temperate and temperate regions

Additional Features

• FlowersShort racemes of small lilac-white flowers among the foliage in summer, followed by blue-black berries
• UsesMass ground cover under trees, path and bed edging, a mown-grass substitute in shade and container underplanting
• SpacingPlant 9 to 12 per square metre for a closed cover
• Low MaintenanceShear once a year in late winter if the foliage looks tired; otherwise leave it alone
• Pest ResistanceGenerally trouble-free, with slugs and snails grazing new growth occasionally
• Drought ToleranceEstablished mats hold condition in dry shade on minimal irrigation
• VersatilityWorks as ground cover, edging, container filler and understorey texture

Lilyturf is the quiet answer to dry shade, holding a clean even texture in the conditions that defeat most ground cover.