Ophiopogon nigrescens

I've just got those little seedlings that I grew a few years back brought to me as my mum was round visiting.....but they're not so little now , rather handily they're in a plastic trough so I can transplant them to their desired spots, they've also started spreading so there's even more

 

Hi Kristen, unfortunately I asked my mum to harvest the seed a little too late as they'd all gone, either fallen or eaten (not sure whether anything eats these seed though )

 

I've found this a difficult plant to associate with others. Red or yellow,Heucheras or red grasses. Or, campanula dicksons gold perhaps. Bilbo, I think ophiopogon likes a light mulch of compost and looks good if you can plant them out as a group. Anyone out there with ideas of companion plants for this?

 

Hi Verdun, I've grown it in gravel under clump forming bamboo, the gravel shows it off well as its colour doesn't blend in as it might against soil. Being in gravel also provides ideal conditions for its seed to germinate naturally..

Also grown it around the bottom of a Sambucus Black Lace in a large pot, mixed with white autumn flowering cyclamens and snowdrops, it looked pretty good to me

 

This is one of my pots, taken last December, I've planted Ophiopogon under a small Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' and thrown in a couple of Polyanthus as well.

 

I have a very tiny green form of Ophiopogon and there is a form with variegated green and white leaves.

 

Not to worry. I'd be very grateful if you could ask her again next year? I need to grow rather a lot of these, and for some reason mine don't seem to set any seed - although the pots I have are fairly stuffed, so hopefully I can split them up next spring.

 

Yes certainly not a problem , I know my original planting in the gravel in her garden is quite extensive now and produces a lot of seed from its flowers if you catch in time..

 

Trunky, that's goods idea. You've got red/orange stems of dogwood plus black leaves of ophiopogon to look at over winter. Polys are nice touch too. May copy and claim it as my idea!

 

I think it gives good contrast with silver or even gold foliage. It looks good with blue flowers such as Nigella or Iris reticulata. In this pic below, the Ophiopogon is planted with Autumn crocus which are currently flowering through it. (this does give messy green foliage poking up later on...but only for a while before it flops down amongst the Ophiopogon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julieparishruralgardener/3743076313/in/photostream

 

it definitely could create a pleasant contrast with a variety of flower colours, also because the elongated shape of the leaves is quite understated and would highligtht whatever is next to it.

 

Some great ideas folks. It is so good to get opinions like this

 

A neighbour plants it with a tall, red grass, which I think is this one

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/grasses/imperata-cylindrica-rubra/classid.2035/

It looks great, as he grows the Ophiopogon at the base, with the Rubra in the middle.

Gemini, I have this grass to and it's great; I had a huge clump and recently divided it, getting 6 smaller plants out of the clump, which was only planted two years ago. Fully hardy, grows almost anywhere (said clump was hidden in the shade all summer this year!).

 

Yes, imperata red baron, I have this grass. I have grown this with ophiopogon too and with uncinia unciniata rubra which is evergreen. Lots of interesting ideas for me to experiment with in a new bed I am creating