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Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'

herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
in Plants
I have just cleared a raised bed in order to 'renew' it, it had Spirea Japonicum, Montbretia and Ophiopogum in it (and couch grass!).

The Ophiopogum is important to me and I have been trying to find a spot in the garden where it will thrive and look like the pictures in catalogues  :(  But so far it seems to just survive, or get strangled by Montbretia.

I have clay soil so have tried it in containers of high humous compost in sun, part shade and shade. I have put bits of it in different parts of the garden where it has just existed. Read up on it but there are so many conflicting views I am now confused  :/

I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has a thriving, spreading clump! Please tell me how you do it.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett

Posts

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited August 2018
    Patience. It is VERY slow to clump up.
    Even once it settles in it doesn't rush to clump up.
    Seems to be happy in deep shade and full sun.

    Best I ever saw was underplanted with pink crocus.
    Maybe Crocus tommasianus roseus





    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Years ago, in the 80s I made a pond in our mildly acid clay garden in Harrow and round two sides I made a gravel bed into which I worked plenty of compost and some grit then planted an array of alpines and low growing plants before mulching the whole with gravel.

    One of the plants was a newly introduced/fashionable ophiopogon PN which I bought from Bressingham gardens for £6.50 - a lot of money back then but it was a good healthy specimen.  It romped away and spread happily.   

    I've never managed to get it to grow as well since so I assume it likes full sun and rich but well drained soil and it definitely needs something pale to set it off.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Silver surfer said:
    Patience. It is VERY slow to clump up.
    Even once it settles in it doesn't rush to clump up.
    Seems to be happy in deep shade and full sun.

    Best I ever saw was underplanted with pink crocus.
    Maybe Crocus tommasianus roseus





    A lovely combination!
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Thank you @Silver surfer and @Obelixx I like the gravel idea a lot, I thought it would be nice with Montbretia growing through! Doh! It just went bonkers and swamped it, you'll have guessed I'm not very good with 'proper' flowers.

    Most of the stuff in my garden is 'people' and this was a favourite of my husband's who was drawn to anything a bit odd, so I don't want to lose it.

    I have a horrible concrete shed base which I have been wishing I could disguise, maybe a kind of beach area with some water would be good. The front gets sun most of the time and it could have it's own pocket to grow in. What do you think? Or would it be better to the side actually in the ground?
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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