Mondo Grass is a cover crop — grown to build and protect the soil rather than for a harvest of its own. Notably, it shrugs off deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a modest draw for honeybees.
Zones
Data not available
pH Range
5-7
Sun
Shade
Days to Maturity
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Score Mondo Grass on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether mondo grass actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score mondo grass against your land's real conditions.
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What Mondo Grass is
Mondo Grass grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms white in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Mondo Grass
Mondo Grass does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
Data not available
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Shade
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
180+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant mondo grass in shade with at least 2 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Mondo Grass prefers pH 5 to 7 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Turn it in before it seeds
Cut mondo grass down or turn it into the soil before it sets seed, while the growth is still green — that's when it returns the most to the ground.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — mondo grass isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Mondo Grass offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Mondo Grass thrives
Whether mondo grass thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Mondo Grass will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether mondo grass actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Mondo Grass in my zone?
Zone data for mondo grass is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
When should you plant Mondo Grass?
Most growers plant mondo grass after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 180-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Mondo Grass need?
Mondo Grass is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.
What soil does Mondo Grass need?
Mondo Grass prefers soil pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Mondo Grass attract pollinators?
Yes — mondo grass's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Mondo Grass safe for pets?
Mondo Grass is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.