Winter care: we are into the colder months. Protect newly planted or tender specimens from hard frosts, and hold off planting out until the frost risk has passed.
The Ophiopogon japonicus 'Minor', better known as dwarf mondo grass, is a superb evergreen groundcover for the front of a border, the edge of a path or the gaps between paving. It forms neat, dense tufts of fine, arching, dark green leaves just 5 to 10cm high, spreading slowly by underground runners into a lush, low carpet. Despite the name and the grassy looks, it is not a true grass at all but a member of the lily family (Asparagaceae), which is exactly why it stays so tidy and needs so little attention.
Fully hardy across most of the UK at around RHS H5, it holds its deep green colour right through winter when so much else has died back. In summer it sends up short spikes of small, pale lilac flowers among the foliage, followed by glossy blue-black berries in autumn. For a bolder contrast, grow it alongside its taller relative black mondo grass, or weave it through the rest of our hardy exotics range.
Water regularly through the first season while the runners knit together, after which it looks after itself. It is wonderfully adaptable, thriving as edging, between stepping stones, as a no-mow lawn alternative in lightly used areas, in pots and containers, and even in coastal and exposed gardens. Simply shear away any scruffy old foliage in early spring to keep it looking fresh.
Every plant we supply is nursery-grown and carefully selected for a healthy, well-rooted clump. For a guide to how our outdoor plants arrive and settle in through the seasons, see our hardy exotics: what to expect page.
Live Arrival Guarantee
All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.
Ordering in autumn or winter? Many hardy exotics arrive dormant or cut back right now. This is normal, and the best time to plant.
Seasonal by nature: what to expect
Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.
Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal.
Read what to expect through the seasons
Delivery and returns
See all delivery pricing tiers
Based on your basket total, confirmed at checkout. Free delivery: Economy over £60 · Standard over £100 · Express over £150.
Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.
Outdoor plants are sold by the size of their pot — measured in litres, with the pot diameter in cm.
A larger pot means a more established plant for quicker impact in the garden; a smaller pot is better value and
soon catches up once planted out.
9cm · 0.5L
Young plant
A young, vigorous plant and the most economical way to build up a planting. Give it a season or two and it will romp away.
~13cm · 1L
Starter
A well-rooted young plant, ready to grow on in a border or container. Great value for filling space over a season or two.
~15cm · 2L
Established
A bushier, more established plant with a developed root system — a dependable middle ground that suits most gardens.
~17cm · 3L
Garden ready
A strong, garden-ready plant that establishes quickly and makes a visible difference in its very first season.
~19cm · 5L
Instant impact
A larger, fuller specimen for immediate presence — ideal when you want the planted look straight away.
21cm+ · 7.5L+
Specimen
A mature, substantial specimen — the quickest route to an established, fully planted-up feel.
Pots that fit this plant
We recommend
How to care for Dwarf Mondo Grass
Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.
In their words
What our customers say
EP
Emily P.
Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.
JR
James R.
Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.
SL
Sophie L.
Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.
Get to know me
About Dwarf Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus 'Minor' needs full sun or partial shade or full shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.
fully hardy and evergreen in most of the country, needing no winter protection in an average garden.
Position
Full sunPartial shadeFull shadeNorth-facingEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered
anywhere from full sun to full shade, making it one of the most versatile groundcovers you can plant.
Soil
ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH
any reasonable soil that is moist but well-drained, right across the pH range.
Watering
Water regularly through the first season while the runners knit together into a carpet. After that it is largely self-sufficient; simply shear away any tired old foliage in early spring to freshen up the clumps.Read moreShow less
Water regularly through the first season while the runners knit together into a carpet. After that it is largely self-sufficient; simply shear away any tired old foliage in early spring to freshen up the clumps.
Mature size
Height5-10 cm
Spread0.2-0.3 m
Reaches full size in 2-5 years
Growth habit
Spreading/groundcover
Flowering
JFMAMJJASOND
Jul-Aug
Seasonal colour
SpringSummerAutumnWinterFlowerFoliageBerriesStem
Foliage
Evergreen
Pruning
Evergreen and low-maintenance; simply shear away any scruffy old foliage in early spring to freshen the clumps.
Toxicity
No reported toxicity to people or pets; dwarf mondo grass is generally considered non-toxic.
Native range
Japan, Korea, China
Family
Asparagaceae
Also known as
Ophiopogon japonicus 'Minor'
Genus
Ophiopogon
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dwarf mondo grass an evergreen groundcover?
Yes. Ophiopogon japonicus 'Minor' forms a dense, evergreen carpet of narrow dark green leaves just 5 to 10cm tall, holding its colour right through the British winter. That makes it one of the most useful low groundcover plants for edging, gaps between paving and the front of a border.
Is Ophiopogon japonicus 'Minor' actually a grass?
Not quite. Despite the name and its grassy tufts, dwarf mondo grass is not a true grass at all but a member of the lily family Asparagaceae, related to lily turf. It behaves like an evergreen grassy groundcover in the garden, so it pairs beautifully with its taller cousin black mondo grass.
Is dwarf mondo grass hardy in the UK?
Yes, it is fully hardy in most of the country, rated around RHS H5, and stays evergreen through the winter. It needs no special protection in an average garden, though a light mulch is worth adding in very cold, exposed spots.
Does dwarf mondo grass grow in sun or shade?
Both, which is what makes it so useful. It grows happily in full sun through to deep shade, so you can use it under trees and shrubs as well as in open, sunny gaps. The foliage tends to be a slightly deeper green in shade and forms tighter tufts in sun.
Can you plant dwarf mondo grass between paving?
Absolutely. Its tiny stature and spreading runners make it ideal for softening gaps between paving slabs and stepping stones, edging paths, or planting in drifts as a low, no-mow lawn alternative in areas with only light foot traffic. It knits together slowly into a neat green mat.
Can you grow dwarf mondo grass in pots?
Yes, it is excellent in containers. Use it as evergreen edging around larger specimens, as a groundcover carpet in pots and troughs, or in shallow bowls and alpine pans. Just keep it out of ground that dries out completely and it will look good all year.
Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.
If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.
If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.
It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.
If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.
If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.
That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.
Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.
When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.
We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.
Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.
It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.
Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.
Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.
During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.
That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.
The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.
Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Perfect for Gifting
From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.
Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.
Sustainability at Heart
All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.
