Dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanus')

Japanese dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Gyoku-ryu') is a plant of the genus Ophiopogon. It has tubers and a well-developed root system, with roots growing up to 20 cm or more in length, milky white and slightly thick. It has almost no stems, a short stature, and grows in a hemispherical clump, about 10 cm high. It has single, clustered leaves that are 10-20 cm long and 0.2-0.3 cm wide, narrowly linear, with sharp bases, blunt tips, rough margins, and a dark green color. Both upper and lower surfaces are smooth, with the lower surface somewhat powdery white, and 5-7 veins. It produces racemes with 10 flowers per bract, and upright flower stalks that are light purple to white. The capsule is about 0.5 cm in diameter, and the seeds are dark blue.
Gyoku-ryu grows and propagates rapidly. When planted, it quickly forms a dense, carpet-like lawn, making it exceptionally good for soil and water conservation. It is highly shade-tolerant and more foot-traffic resistant than common lawn grasses, making it an excellent groundcover material.