Florida has hundreds of miles of beaches. The climate in most regions is humid subtropical, which means that summer is hot and humid, while winter is cool and dry. Florida is also known as the “Sunshine State” because it is generally sunny here, especially in coastal areas.
But it can be cloudy and rainy sometimes. Florida falls under USDA Climate Zones 8a to 11b. If you’re wondering whether you can grow mondo grass in Florida, the answer is definitely yes, and this article can be your guide to mondo grass Florida.
Types of Mondo Grass
Mondo grass is an evergreen perennial, which means that you can enjoy its beautiful green leaves all year round. This grass type is popular for being low-maintenance and easy to grow. It can tolerate almost any soil and lighting conditions. Below are three main types of mondo grass that you can grow in your garden or yard.
Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) can grow up to 10 to 14 inches, and the plant can spread up to 2 feet. In the summer, this grass bears flowers that are pale lilac in color. This flower will turn into small berry-like fruits that are blue in color in the fall.
Black Mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) has thin black arching blades. For gravel gardens, black mondo grass can be a great addition because it can give a dramatic jet-black accent to the area. This grass type requires a lot of water as compared to other mondo grasses.
Dwarf Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nana’) only grows between 3 inches and 6 inches tall. When summer comes, this grass type bears white flowers that will turn into blue small berries in the fall. Most gardeners grow mondo grass in between stones or pave yards. However, one downside to growing mondo grasses is that they are the slowest-growing mondo grass type.
Does mondo grass grow well in Florida?
Although Florida experiences hot summers, the heat is tolerable because the state is surrounded by water. The soil type in most regions is sandy and slightly acidic, with a median soil pH of 6.1. Mondo grasses are easy to grow because they’re not demanding when it comes to growing conditions. Let’s take a look at the minimum growth requirements for mondo grasses and see if Florida can provide them with these growing conditions.
Light
Mondo grasses can grow in any lighting condition. The leaves are light green in full sun and dark green in shade. Even if you plant them in shaded areas, they will still continue to grow. We all know that it is sunny in Florida all year long. In fact, Florida has an average of 237 sunny days per year. There are, of course, rainy and cloudy days in between, which is not a problem with mondo grass.
Water
Mondo grass doesn’t need that much water. You can water the plant once a week when the soil has become dry. Summer is long in Florida, and during these hot days, heavy rain also visits the state. With this much supply of water, summer in Florida is bearable for mondo grasses. You don’t have to water them in the winter when they are dormant.
Temperature
The mondo grass is hardy in USDA climate zones 7 to 11. This means that mondo grass can not tolerate very cold temperatures. The winter temperatures that mondo grasses can withstand are between 0 degrees F and 45 degrees F only. This is not a problem because Florida is in USDA climate zones 8a to 11b. Tallahassee, which is the capital of Florida, has an average minimum winter temperature of 15 degrees F to 20 degrees F. The southern part of Florida falls under USDA climate zone 11, which means that regions here have an average minimum winter temperature of 40 degrees F to 45 degrees F. Mondo grasses can survive anywhere in Florida.
Soil
Mondo grasses don’t require fertile soil, but the soil type has to be at least well-draining, moist, and free of weeds. Mondo grasses like slightly acidic soil types, which is the typical soil type in Florida. You need to keep the soil moderately moist during establishment. Mondo grasses don’t thrive when they have competition for soil nutrients, so make sure to remove weeds around them.
How to care for mondo grass in Florida
Mondo grasses are low-maintenance and once they are established, you can just visit them anytime you like. During the hot summer days in Florida, make sure to keep the soil moist by watering the mondo grass plant once the soil becomes dry.
Pull the weeds growing around the grass plant because they will compete for soil nutrients. Keeping off the weeds is necessary especially if you planted the grass plant in a soil type that is not very fertile.
To help the growth and spread of mondo grass, pull up the grass plant and divide its root clumps. You can do this once every 2 or 3 years to help the mondo grass propagate and grow fast. If you think the soil needs improvement, add some diluted grass feed to the soil in the spring. You can do this once a year. Common pests that may attack mondo grasses include snails, slugs, and scales. This can be a problem during heavy rains in Florida in the summer. Root rot is a common problem also among mondo grasses. This is due to overwatering, especially if the soil type is not well-draining.
Mondo Grass Florida: Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a grass variety that is easy to grow and care for, mondo grass is a great choice. They thrive in almost any growing condition, so it is more likely that they will also thrive in Florida. Just make sure that you fulfill the minimum growth requirements for mondo grass.
This will help them grow fast and easily cover your garden or yard. The best planting time for mondo grass is during early spring. The minimum requirement for mondo grass is a well-draining, free of weeds, and moist soil type. Give your mondo grass plants this and they will even bear beautiful flowers in the summer, adding beauty to your landscape.