During this gardening craze, mondo grass vs Liriope has become the most explored species.
The two species of grass are the most popular grasses, noted for their durability and easy maintenance, and are often used as ground covers and in garden borders. If you want low-maintenance grass, mondo grass and Liriope are ideal.
But what’s the difference between Mondo grass and Liriope? Even though the fact that the mondo grass belongs to the Ophiopogon genera and the Liriope belongs to the liriope genera, both are confusing due to their nearly identical unique physical qualities.
I know it’s puzzling, but the information below will assist you.
Contents
Mondo grass vs liriope
What is Mondo and Liriope?
Mondo grass is an ornamental plant in the genus Ophiopogon; it is a lovely evergreen perennial sod that brightens up your yard in the summer with nice lavender or white flowers emerging amid the leaves.
This verdant groundcover plant grows native to China, Japan, and Korea, but it has recently been adopted by western nations and has become a pop star amongst gardeners. Mondo has good features, prompting some to speculate that it is not even a genuine grass but rather a close relative of the lily.
Liriope is a member of the Asparagaceae family and is one of the finest evergreen ground covers. It is also known as the creeping lilyturf.
Many people in eastern and southern Asia believe the grass was christened after an ancient daughter of a Phoenician River God. And Europeans quickly adopted this ornamental grass to liven up their yards, which has shown to work well in South Carolina.
Mondo and liriope features
Both are decorative grasses and members of the lily family, which is a grass-like plant. Thus, they are easily confused, but the fundamental difference is obvious when both plants are side by side.
The mondo grass is dwarfish, whereas the Liriope is tall, reaching a height of up to 24 inches, with the Evergreen Giant variation being the tallest. If you plant the two in the same area, the height difference will not give an appealing appearance.
The leaves of a liriope are ¾ inches broad, while the leaves of a mondo grass are roughly ½ inches wide. The mondo’s slender leaves are strappy with a glossy green or even variegated tint and have a clumping behavior, depending on the type. When comparing the two, you’ll note that the mondo has a deeper dark green than the Liriope.
See also:
Yet, not all Liriope are dark green; some, such as silver sunproof and ‘John Burch,’ have a striped white or yellow leaf. Both plants are robust and self-sufficient once established, but their leaves become dark and tough in the winter. However, the mondo leaves are more easily discolored throughout the winter than the liriope foliage.
When summer hits, the Liriope blooms with stunning white to lavender flowers that stand out above the foliage. The foliage is cream-colored or purplish, while the mondo blooms are short and frequently concealed beneath the foliage. The mondo grass flower transforms into beautiful blueberries in late summer, while the liriope blossom transforms into blackberries.
See also: Different varieties of mondo grass
Growing the Liriope and the mondo
Both plants are exceedingly simple, with nearly identical development requirements. To begin, you must select an ideal location and thoroughly prepare it for optimum results.
Both will grow in shady settings and under full sunlight as long as the soil is clear of weeds and well-drained; they both despise continually wet or soggy soil.
The mondo and Liriope are drought tolerant and will easily keep their lovely color once established. Both cover nearly the same geographical area, with hardiness varying somewhat depending on the cultivar.
See also: Can you cut monkey grass in the summer
They both have a low maintenance value that appeals to many homes. However, the mondo will require more water than the Liriope.
Their clumps can also be lifted and planted separately in your selected spot; the only difference is that the Liriope spreads more aggressively than the mondo grass. Give it more space if you want to utilize Liriope as a border plant.
Nevertheless, planting both is pretty simple; simply dig a hole somewhat larger than the root cluster, plant the grass, and cover. That’s it.
See also: How is mondo grass compared to monkey grass?
Caring for liriope and mondo
The mondo and the Liriope are sometimes referred to as the ‘landscapers’ mate’ since they are less demanding and still look good. Both need frequent watering, but they are somewhat drought tolerant once they are properly established.
However, you can water them a few times a week during extended periods of dryness. The only weakness they share is soggy soil; the mondo and the Liriope require well-drained soil to be at their best.
The Liriope needs special care; this grass look-alike should be pruned regularly if you want that neat and clean look. They spread faster than the mondo grass, and your Liriope will look rugged if the old foliage and flower stems are not removed.
Even though the mondo spreads slowly, you can still prune to bring out the best of it.
Pest and diseases
Anthracnose, a fungal disease caused by excessive moisture, affects both the mondo and the Liriope, causing identical symptoms of reddish or brown areas on their leaves.
Slugs will destroy both the mondo and the Liriope, but spider mites are more attracted to the Liriope; these little red-sucking insects inflict foliage damage. The good news is that they are deer and rabbit-resistant.
McDonald’s or Burger King, I know you have your favorite, but it is still a toss-up between the two; it is the same with Mondo vs. Liriope. Both have the same flashy effect and are low maintenance.
Mondo and Liriope are two kissing cousins but pay closer attention to the detail, and you will be able to spot the difference. Physical, you will notice the Liriope is larger than the mondo, but you will need all the information you can get to make the right choice regarding Mondo vs. Liriope.
