Monkey Grass is the landscape world’s silent workhorse, earning its keep where traditional turf grumbles and dies. Its dense, clumping root system chokes out weeds, handles afternoon shade with ease, and asks for nothing more than occasional watering — making it a cornerstone of low-maintenance Southern and transitional-zone gardens.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I’ve spent years comparing hundreds of live plant listings against hardiness-zone maps, clump density data, and aggregated owner feedback to separate genuinely robust starts from the ones that ship as barely rooted sprigs.
Whether you’re filling a narrow side bed or building a full border border from scratch, picking the right best monkey grass plants comes down to checking root mass, foliage condition on arrival, and zone compatibility — long before any aesthetic choice matters.
How To Choose The Best Monkey Grass Plants
Monkey grass (the catch-all name for both Liriope and Ophiopogon species) is sold in a handful of distinct formats — and the “best” one for your yard depends entirely on the planting scale, the light your beds receive, and how quickly you need the gap to fill in. Here is exactly what separates an intelligent buy from a regretful one.
Plant Format: Single Pots vs. Flats vs. Bare Root
A 1-gallon pot yields one relatively mature plant with a well-developed root crown — ideal for spot-filling or small borders where you want instant presence. A 3.5-inch pot flat (18-count) delivers many smaller starts designed to be spaced 6-12 inches apart to form a seamless carpet over a large area within one season. Bare root bundles are the cheapest per unit, but they demand more careful handling upon arrival and can suffer from higher transplant shock in hot weather.
Foliage Type: Solid Green vs. Variegated
Standard green Liriope muscari has deep, grass-like blades that stay dark all season and create a uniform, formal look under shade trees. Variegated Liriope carries green-and-white or green-and-yellow striped leaves that reflect more light, making it a popular choice for sunny borders or front-of-bed edging. The trade-off is that variegated forms tend to be slightly less vigorous in deep shade, where they can revert to mostly green.
Shipping Condition and Root Mass
Live plants travel in a closed box for days, so the seller’s packing method — moist newspaper, sealed plastic around the pot, padded box walls — is a survival factor. Look for listings whose reviews consistently mention “healthy root ball” and “moist soil on arrival.” A plant that arrives bone-dry or with a shattered root crown will set you back weeks of recovery time, even with careful watering.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarf Mondo Grass 18 Flat | Premium Flat | Large-scale ground cover, shade | 3.5” pots, 18 count | Amazon |
| Variegated Liriope 18 Pack | Premium Flat | Striped foliage edging, sun-part shade | 4” pots, 18 count | Amazon |
| Perfect Plants Royal Purple Liriope | Mid-Range Pot | Spot filling, small borders | 1 gallon container | Amazon |
| Super Blue Liriope 3 Pack | Budget Pack | Quick trial, small shady spots | 3 live plants | Amazon |
| Perennial Farm Royal Purple Liriope | Mid-Range Pot | Single specimen, deep purple bloom | 1 gallon container | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nana’) 18 Count Flat
This flat by GARDENS OY VEY is the go-to choice when you need serious square-footage coverage in one shipment. Each of the 18 plants arrives in its own 3.5-inch pot with a full root system already established — not a bare-root gamble. The dwarf variety stays just three inches tall, creating that coveted lawn-replacement look without ever needing a mower.
Hardy in zones 7-10, it tolerates shade-to-partial-sun better than standard Liriope, and the stoloniferous spread means it slowly knits into a solid green mat within a single season when spaced at six inches. Reviewers consistently describe the plants as “larger than expected” and “almost fake-looking” — a rare endorsement for shipped live goods.
If your project is a narrow shaded strip, a rock-garden border, or a large bed where you want weed suppression with zero annual re-planting, this flat provides the density and uniformity that individual pots cannot match.
What works
- 18 well-rooted plants in separate pots for easy transplant
- Extremely low mature height (3 in) — no trimming needed
- Deer resistant foliage with delicate white-to-blue berries
What doesn’t
- Not suitable for full, baking-hot sun in zone 9+
- Higher upfront cost than bare root bundles
2. Variegated Liriope Grass 18 Pack
Plants by Mail ships this 18-count pack in individual 4-inch pots — a half-inch wider than the standard 3.5-inch container, which translates to a larger root ball and less transplant shock. The variegated cream-and-green blades are the star attraction here, adding visual texture that plain green Liriope cannot deliver, especially when planted in mass along a walkway or driveway edge.
It grows to about 15 inches tall with purple flower spikes in late summer, and it’s winter-hardy down to USDA zone 5. The product care guide included with the shipment is unusually thorough for this category, covering first-season watering schedules and a recommended fertilizing regimen. Reviewers note that these arrived “mature, well rooted and very healthy,” with some praising the seller’s response time during cold-weather shipping delays.
If your layout craves contrast and your soil drains well (loam is preferred), this pack will establish quickly and outshine monochromatic foliage options from the first season onward.
What works
- Larger 4-inch pots reduce transplant shock significantly
- Striking variegated pattern holds well in partial sun
- Excellent cold tolerance down to -15°F (zone 5)
What doesn’t
- Variegation may fade in deep shade locations
- Requires more consistent moisture during first summer than green types
3. Perfect Plants Royal Purple Liriope 1 Gallon
Perfect Plants delivers a single, large 1-gallon container of Royal Purple Liriope — the most mature format in this lineup. The root crown is already dense, with dark green foliage that reaches about 18 inches at maturity and produces those rich purple flower spikes in spring. This is the plant you grab when you need an immediate anchor for a small garden bed or a specimen beside a mailbox.
The included special blend fertilizer and region-specific planting guide are nice practical touches that reduce guesswork for first-time Liriope buyers. Owner feedback highlights that plants arrive “healthy, well-packaged, in great condition” and often bloom within a week. The only recurring note is that a second order from the same seller can sometimes arrive with less care — a variability to keep in mind if you are buying multiple units for a larger project.
It will not ship to California or Arizona due to state agricultural restrictions, so confirm your location before ordering.
What works
- Large, well-rooted 1-gallon pot provides instant visual impact
- Rich purple blooms and inedible black berries add multi-season interest
- Includes starter fertilizer and planting guide
What doesn’t
- Does not ship to California or Arizona
- Packaging consistency can vary between order batches
4. Super Blue Liriope Muscari 3 Live Plants
Florida Foliage packs three Super Blue Liriope plants together — a solid entry-level buy for anyone testing monkey grass for the first time or filling a small nook under a tree. The “Super Blue” selection is known for its slightly wider leaf blade compared to standard Liriope, giving it a lush, full appearance even when spaced out.
It is rated as drought tolerant once established and thrives in both full sun and partial shade, which makes it one of the most flexible options on this list if your yard has mixed light conditions. Multiple buyers have ordered large quantities (40 plants at a time) and reported that every single one arrived healthy and well-leaved. The three-count format keeps the entry cost low, and the seller packs each one carefully to prevent root disturbance during transit.
If you need to cover substantial ground quickly, you may want to order multiple packs — but for a low-stakes trial run or a single accent clump, this pack delivers more than expected for the price.
What works
- Widest light tolerance — thrives in full sun to deep shade
- Dense, lush clump habit suppresses weeds naturally
- Excellent seller reputation for shipping speed and plant health
What doesn’t
- Only three plants — not enough for large ground-cover projects
- May take a full season to fill in compared to larger pot sizes
5. Perennial Farm Marketplace Royal Purple Liriope 1 Gallon
Perennial Farm Marketplace sells a single Royal Purple Liriope in a 1-gallon pot with a crucial caveat: between November 1st and March 1st, the plant may arrive dormant and trimmed back. This is normal for the species, but first-time buyers unaccustomed to dormant perennials may panic when they see brown stubs instead of lush greenery. If you order in spring, you will receive a fully leafed-out specimen ready to transplant immediately.
The deep purple flowers appear in spring and summer, and the plant tops out at 15 inches — slightly shorter than the Perfect Plants version, which suits front-of-border positioning. Packaging feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with multiple reviewers calling it “the most careful packaging” they have seen from a plant seller. The only occasional complaint involves plants that looked half-dead upon arrival but revived after being planted and watered; this underscores how important soil moisture is during the first week after transplanting.
This is an ideal single-specimen buy for gardeners who prefer organic material and who are comfortable with seasonal dormancy patterns.
What works
- Organic growing material — no synthetic chemical inputs
- Compact 15-inch height fits front-of-bed borders perfectly
- Exceptionally careful packaging praised by repeat buyers
What doesn’t
- Dormant/trimmed condition during winter may alarm new gardeners
- Limited to 1 plant per order — not efficient for mass planting
Hardware & Specs Guide
Liriope muscari vs. Ophiopogon japonicus
The two groups sold as “monkey grass” are botanically distinct. Liriope (Lilyturf) produces upright, clump-forming foliage that reaches 12-18 inches and sends up purple flower spikes above the leaves. Ophiopogon (Mondo Grass) spreads via stolons to form a shorter, denser mat — the dwarf Nana variety stays under 4 inches tall. If you want a formal, almost lawn-like carpet, choose Ophiopogon. If you want upright texture and taller flower stalks, go with Liriope.
Pot Size and Plant Count
A 1-gallon pot contains a plant that may be a year or older, with a developed root crown that makes it nearly bulletproof after transplant — but you pay for that maturity per unit. A 3.5-inch or 4-inch pot flat (18 count) gives you many young plants that cost less per individual but require more careful spacing and watering during their first month. For a 40-square-foot bed, the flat route is almost always the better choice for uniform coverage within one season.
FAQ
How far apart should I space monkey grass plants from this list?
Will monkey grass survive full sun or does it need full shade?
Why did my monkey grass arrive brown and trimmed in winter?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the best monkey grass plants winner is the Dwarf Mondo Grass 18 Flat because it delivers the highest root-mass-to-plant-count ratio, stays low enough to eliminate trimming, and is reliably deer-resistant. If you want striped variegated foliage that pops along a sunny pathway, grab the Variegated Liriope 18 Pack. And for a single, mature specimen that anchors a small border fast, nothing beats the Perfect Plants Royal Purple Liriope 1 Gallon.