Caption
Liriope muscari, ‘Moneymaker,’ is an erect evergreen perennial that produces blue-purple flowers in panicles from August to October. It is also called Big Blue Lilyturf.
A Complete Guide to Planting, Growing, and Maintaining Liriope in Sun or Shade
Need a ground cover that looks good without demanding attention? Learn how to grow liriope, also known as lilyturf—a tough, evergreen perennial that handles sun or shade, shrugs off pests, and keeps its tidy shape year-round. With arching green leaves and spikes of purple or white flowers in late summer, liriope is an easy solution for edging beds, lining walkways, or covering tricky spots where other plants struggle.
About Liriope
Liriopes are also known as lilyturf. The name is pronounced la-rye-oh-pee or li-rye-oh-pee. While they may resemble an ornamental grass, liriopes are an evergreen perennial in the Asparagaceae or asparagus family. Two main species are grown, Liriope spicata and Liriope muscari; however, L. spicata is listed as invasive in some states, so we’ll focus on the more popular L. muscari.
As perennials, lilyturfs are hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 10, depending on the cultivar. You can mow them in the spring, and they’ll grow back. These knee-high plants grow in mounds or clumps with slender, sword-like leaves arching from the base to form a fountain effect. The foliage is usually dark green, but many variegated green and white or cream colors have been bred and are easily found. Flowers appear in late summer to fall, with dozens of small violet or white flowers born on tall spikes called racemes.
Liriope’s shorter growth form and graceful arching leaves make it a great foliage plant for most of the growing season. It excels as a ground cover on slopes or challenging spots, an edging plant in a garden bed, lining a path, or at the edge of a rock garden. Plant it around your mailbox or anywhere else you don’t want to have to use a string trimmer on the grass.
Liriopes look great planted en masse or in a bed with other sun to partial shade-loving plants that need good drainage, like bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis), coneflowers (Echinacea), and Astilbes.
Liriopes are rather tough plants and rank medium on the scale of deer resistance. Once established, they tolerate dry conditions but will do much better with sufficient water.
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Growing
Lilyturf belongs in the category of easy-to-grow plants. Once established, they don’t need much attention and will come back year after year.
How to Grow Liriope
Newly transplanted or divided lilyturf plants need frequent watering while they become established. Weekly waterings–or more often in dry conditions–will help them thrive while they settle in. After the first growing season, liriopes don’t usually need supplemental watering except during dry weather. If you are watering the rest of your garden, go ahead and water the liriopes. Otherwise, they’ll be fine on their own.
Liriopes like soil enriched with organic matter (compost) and will do well with an annual top dressing of compost. They can also be fertilized yearly in spring with a general-purpose slow-release fertilizer. Mulch will help to keep the soil moist, which they like, and keep weeds down between plants.
Spent flower spikes can be removed or left as winter interest. It’s common for the foliage to die back in late autumn, but leave any dead leaves until spring. They’ll serve as habitat for beneficial insects. In early spring, remove any dead foliage and stems.
How to Divide and Transplant Liriope
It is typically unnecessary to propagate liriope plants as they are aggressive growers. However, if they are getting crowded and spreading too aggressively, you may wish to divide and transplant. In the spring, lift the clump and brush off some of the soil. Tease the rootball to find natural dividing points and slice through with a sharp garden knife or trowel, keeping some of the crowns with each root section. Replant immediately and water well for the first year.
Types
Check the botanical name on the tag if you intend to purchase the slower-spreading Liriope muscari and avoid the more aggressive Liriope spicata which spreads by underground rhizomes. Both are likely to be labeled as lilyturf. A separate plant, Ophiopogon jaburan, also goes by the common name lilyturf.
- ‘Super Blue’ is one of the showiest of the group. Dark green foliage is topped in fall with spikes of purple-blue flowers. It generally reaches 15-18 inches tall and about 18 inches wide.
- ‘Gold Banded’ is a variegated variety with gold edging along the borders of the leaves. Tall racemes full of lilac-purple flowers add to the show, but this one is great as a foliage plant for the rest of the growing season.
- ‘Majestic’ has slightly wider leaves and shorter but more densely packed flowers. The plant is a little smaller and often reaches only a foot high.
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