Monkey Grass Finally Revealed—What This Weedy Saboteur Is Doing to Your Garden

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:03:57 +0000

Monkey Grass Finally Revealed: What This Weedy Saboteur Is Doing to Your Garden If you’ve recently noticed fast-spreading green mats taking over your lawn, planting beds, or shaded corners, chances are you’re confronting Monkey Grass—a neighborhood scourge many gardeners dread. Often mistaken for ornamental grass, monkey grass (commonly Liriope or Ophiopogon spp.) is quietly transforming lush landscapes into ecological havens for this invasive weed. But why is monkey grass considered a garden saboteur, and what can homeowners do to protect their prized green spaces? ### What Exactly Is Monkey Grass? Monkey grass isn’t one single plant, but a catch-all term for several low-growing, rhizomatous plants in the genus Liriope and Ophiopogon, often labeled for their grasslike appearance. While prized in ornamental gardens for their fine foliage and tolerance to poor light, these plants spread aggressively via underground runners (rhizomes), choking out native vegetation and turf.