In warmer climates with mild winters, it grow as an evergreen. However, in climates with cooler winters, liriope dies off in the fall. In either case, cutting back the foliage in the fall helps to improve next year's growth cycle.
Grow all types of liriope in full sun to partial shade, and in moist, well-drained soil. Established plants can grow in high heat, excessive humidity and drought-prone areas.
muscari, liriope is a low-maintenance plant. Both species are tough plants that can grow in sandy or clay soil and full sun or part shade. The only "must-have" is that it is a well-draining soil. Plant each liriope about 1 foot apart, keeping in mind that L.
Both plants fill in nicely when you plant them in diagonal rows.
- Clear weeds, grass and other debris from the area in full sun to partial shade that you've chosen to plant with liriope.
- Spread a 2-inch layer of compost over the cleared soil and work it in to a 6-inch depth with a shovel.
Liriope spreads quickly and can become invasive in moist, warm climates. It works best planted as a ground cover, rather than in mixed beds. Dig it up and divide it every three to four years to control its growth.
Ideally, the process of dividing liriope should be done in early spring before new growth has resumed. Due to the hardy nature of this plant, however, it is possible to successfully divide this plant later in the season. Water the newly planted liriope weekly until the plants have become established.
Liriope muscari generally grows in a clump form and will spread to about 12 to 18 inches wide. Liriope spicata spreads rapidly by underground stems (rhizomes) and will cover a wide area. Because of its rapid spread, L. spicata is not suitable for an edging but is excellent for groundcover.
ANSWER: Sedges would be a good choice. They have a similar form to liriope, but without colorful flowers. Many are evergreen and will grow in a combination of sun and shade.
Liriope spicata is a low-growing perennial grass. It's often used as a groundcover or as an edging for walkways and garden beds, but it's aggressive and spreads fast. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't become invasive in your garden. Some ornamental grasses can become invasive, crowding out native and cultivated plants.
Complement your Liriope with these varieties:
- Geranium, Perennial. Low growing and colorful, Cranesbill Geranium makes a good companion for Liriope.
- Blue Fescue. Mixing Blue Fescue and Liriope together on a sunny hillside is an attractive option.
- Lamium.
Liriope, also called Monkey Grass and Lily Turf, grows into a thick groundcover that produces spiky, muscari-like flowers in a variety of soils and climates. Cold hardy, drought and heat tolerant, and unappealing to both deer and rabbits, Liriope grows well in both sand and clay.
Because it stays where it is planted, liriope muscari is the preferred choice for flower beds or as an edger. It combines beautifully with evergreen shrubs such as boxwoods, and with perennials with contrasting leaf shapes, such as large-leaved hostas and hellebores.
Where traditional turf fails, liriopes can flourish. Foliage does well under shaded conditions, but blooms and fruit are diminished without sufficient sun. To get blooms from shade-planted liriopes, open up the shade to let in fuller sun, or move your liriopes to a sunny area.
--Recommended Spacing : 18" apart for most applications such as mass plantings, groundcover, erosion control. Widen spacing to at least 2 ft apart if you want distinction between individual clumps.
The same technique should be used for maintaining Liriope (Lillyturf). Prolonged freezing temperatures can do damage to the crown of the plant, so it is best to leave the pruning until early spring when first signs of new growth appear.
It is not necessary, but homeowners and landscapers often trim liriope just prior to spring to remove old-looking and tattered foliage. Time the pruning before new growth has started to emerge in the spring. The trimmed foliage is usually a good candidate for your compost.
Liriope muscari is an evergreen perennial with neat, low, grassy foliage, from which masses of blue-purple spikes, similar to grape hyacinths, emerge in autumn. For best results grow Liriope muscari in well-drained soil in partial to full shade.
Liriope muscari, commonly called lilyturf or blue lily turf, is a tufted, tuberous-rooted, grass-like perennial which typically grows 12-18" tall and features clumps of strap-like, arching, glossy, dark green leaves (to 1" wide).
A: Rabbits occasionally nibble young liriope, but once it's had a year to grow and thicken, they usually let it alone. You can try protecting it with a short fence or spraying a rabbit repellent on it the first season to give it a chance to grow.
Kunming Giant LiriopeWe are pleased to offer a new collection of the biggest liriope, Liriope platyphylla. A single plant of the non-running Liriope platyphylla forms an 18" tall x 4' wide clump of plastic-like, dark green leaves.
Light lavender to white flowers that resemble miniature grape hyacinth blooms appear in late summer suspended on 10" stalks above dense arching, evergreen (in southern zones) tufts of narrow, grassy foliage.
This perennial is remarkably tolerant. it will grow in full sun to part shade. Full sun in the hottest zones will result in the leaves having a bit less vibrant color. Since the plant spreads from the bulbous tubers, it is often used as a ground cover.
If dividing in late summer/early fall, damage still may occur to mature foliage, but the plant will have time to reestablish before winter sets in and will emerge as though undisturbed in the spring. If leaves flop over, just cut off the old ones, which will make the plant look better.
Liriope grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 10. Although it can withstand some parts of USDA zone 5, it is not able to live through colder winters in northern parts of this zone.
A reliable and attractive alternative to more invasive ornamental Grass or dwarf Bamboo. Water regularly - weekly, or more often in extreme heat or containers. Thrives in average, well-drained soils.
Common Name: Blue Lily-turf, Monkey Grass'Big Blue' is a clump-forming selection. Use it in containers or in the landscape. One of the most prized characteristics of this plant is that it can hold its own in drier soils where there is active root competition.
