BLack Mondo Grass

Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens')

Add a little Voodoo to your garden. Nearly jet black leaves make this a most unique specimen. Evergreen perennial, slow grower, reaching 8 inches tall, with a 12 inch spread. Pale white-pink flowers are followed by black fruit. Regular to ample water, prefers moist, well drained soil. White or lilac blossom in summer followed by black fruit. Prefers partial shade. Hardy to zone 5. Wonderful with Epimedium's or bronze colored foliaged plants.

Having just discussed a weather map (Zone what) issue I ended up by commenting -- ALWAYS consider the plants originating habitat. My Zone 7 in the Pacific Northwest is not the same as the Zone 7 in Oklahoma: neither in the length of the cold or the humidity or lack thereof. Add snowfall coverage and winter colds are mitigated. Then again ... what is your SUMMER like? Gunnera comes from the moist highland mountains of S. America and does well here in the Pacific Northwest. It probably will not do well in the Mid-West.

Ophiopogon is a bit more forgiving even having originated in South and East Asia. As it is related to the better known liriops I think it will do well in most of the country as long as it does not get below 15 F. This is a wonderful black foliaged plant with white flowers and the black pearl-like berries are a joy to behold. A ten on my plant scale.

Japanese Forest Grass

Japanese Forest Grass, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'

An elegant and brilliantly colored grass, for sun or shade. It spreads slowly, making compact clumps with slender leafy stems rising up to 1'. The leaves are thin-textured and drooping, colored predominantly bright yellow with green and pink stripes. In hot areas it would need part shade, but here in the Pacific Northwest in does well in full sun. It needs reasonably well-drained soil and regular watering. Goes well with Epimediums, Hosta, Purple Heuchera, Rodgersia or Black Mondo Grass.