Is Liriope muscari variegata an evergreen?
Liriope Muscari Variegata is an evergreen perennial that easily spreads to form a deep carpet of grass-like plants that makes a great ground cover or border plant. This interesting perennial plant has vibrant yellow stripes along the arching dark green foliage. I love the way it adds color to my perennial garden beds.
Is Liriope an invasive plant?
These ornamental grass look-alikes spread via rhizomes, which helps them spread and makes them invasive plants in some regions. To keep the liriope looking nice and neat, mow or shear the foliage back to the ground during the late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
When is the best time to propagate Liriope?
The best time to propagate liriope is in the very late fall or early spring. Dividing liriope is not necessary for the health or longevity of the plant but is often done to control the current plant's spread in an area or to add the plant to another part of the garden or landscape. Division is best attempted after the third growing season.
Does Liriope need division?
Opinions abound as to whether or not liriope needs division. Like many perennial ornamental plants, mounding clumps of liriope will continue to grow in each subsequent season. Unlike other plants, however, there has been little evidence to suggest that the growth of liriope inhibits the plants’ ability to produce flowers.
Is variegated liriope invasive?
While it is very tolerant of adverse conditions it can be invasive. This plant prefers light shade and fertile soil. The leaves are straplike up to 18-inches long, dark green turning to bronze-green in winter. This plant grows between 6" and 10" tall.
Which liriope Cannot spread?
Liriope muscariA better-behaved liriope is Liriope muscari, the “clumping” kind that does not spread by runners and basically stays where you put it. It blooms purple, not white like spicata, but it shares all the good qualities of the spreading kind — incredible toughness and adaptability — without the invasive behavior.
How far apart should you plant variegated liriope?
Plant each liriope about 1 foot apart, keeping in mind that L. Spicata will spread, as it's a creeping plant. It's not necessary to divide the plants, though you can every three to four years.
How do you stop variegated liriope from spreading?
To control its spread, just sever the shoots with a shovel. The separated shoots most likely already have young roots growing from them. You can either replant these shoots to expand your planting or toss or compost them.
How far will liriope spread?
Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon' is an evergreen grass-like perennial that spreads by underground runners to form wide colonies of narrow upright green white-striped foliage to 1 foot tall and easily spreading 3 feet wide or more.
How big do variegated liriope get?
8-18 inches tallGrowing 8-18 inches tall, Variegated Liriope 's grasslike leaves are striped in green and creamy white. From midsummer to fall, spikes of purple flowers bloom, adding pops of color to the garden. Tolerates a variety of light conditions: sun, partial shade and shade.
Should you cut back variegated liriope?
Annual removal of liriope foliage is not a necessity; however, cutting back is desirable if severe winter injury to the foliage has occurred. Running a lawn mower over the plants is a practical means of removal. Hedge shears may be a more practical means for large individual clumps.
Does variegated liriope stay green in winter?
Liriope spicata is green all summer—and winter—long. Japanese pachysandra is an extremely common ground cover for shaded landscapes. It spreads quickly and, once established, remains weed- and maintenance-free.
What should I plant in front of liriope?
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.
What happens if you don't cut back liriope?
If you don't cut your liriope back, you may have to deal with leaves that flop over and start to discolor, which can affect the beautifulness of your garden. You should time your pruning for just about when liriope is about to start its new growth for the year – spring is the ideal time.
Is Liriope grass invasive?
Creeping liriope is an emerging invasive species from Asia. Whereas a handful of U.S. counties and municipalities declare it invasive, Arlington and Alexandria are among those recognizing it as a problematic weed that can crowd out native flora.
Is liriope a good border plant?
Liriope is a tough grass that is often used as a border plant or lawn alternative. There are two main species used, both of which are easy to care for and have few pest or disease problems. Making a Liriope landscape border produces a tidy, low-growing edge that doesn't need mowing and remains green year after year.
Does Green liriope spread?
Liriope species tolerate a wide range of light and soil conditions, as well as heat, humidity and drought. Both species spread vegetatively by raditating rhizomes. Taproots of young plants eventually become fibrous filling the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil.
Is there a dwarf liriope?
They will offer expert advice suited to your area. Mondo Grass has dwarf varieties; Liriope does not. Mondo grass is less sun tolerant and a little less drought and cold tolerant. Check your hardiness zone and think about the microzones in your garden.
What is the difference between Big Blue Liriope and Super Blue Liriope?
Not to be confused with “Big Blue” Liriope, Super Blue has a more vigorous growth habit and can grow to be 20 inches tall. It is exceptional as a container plant, lush border or pathway edging, in mass plantings, and under large trees.
What is a good substitute for liriope?
ANSWER: Sedges would be a good choice. They have a similar form to liriope, but without colorful flowers.
What This Ground Cover Looks Like and Where It Grows
The blades of Liriope spicata reach, at most, 1 foot in height, with a narrower spread. This is a clump-forming perennial, which further associates...
A Comparison Between L. Spicata and L. Muscari
L. muscari is bigger than L. spicata. The former can reach a height of 18 inches and a width of 12 inches. L. muscari is also less hardy (only to U...
Sun and Soil Requirements For Liriope Plants
Liriope plants can be grown in partial shade, although they also double as sun-plants. They profit from water, but as long as you plant them in par...
A Caveat in Growing Liriope Plants
These ornamental grass look-alikes spread via rhizomes, and are vigorous growers, to the point of being considered invasive plants in some regions....
Ornamental Features
Lilyturf forms a dense evergreen groundcover with a grass-like appearance. It blooms in July to August with lavender, purple, pink or white flower spikes. Although the flowers are individually small, they are very showy, since each plant has many spikes of blooms. Clusters of bluish black berry-like fruit follow the flowers.
Landscape Use
Liriope can be used as a groundcover under trees and shrubs and as a massed planting on slopes and banks. Liriope muscari and its cultivars can also be used as low edging plants along paved areas or in front of foundation plantings.
Species & Cultivars
Big Blue Lilyturf ( Liriope muscari ): This lilyturf grows in a clump form, making it well-suited for edging. The leaves are a little wider (3/8 to ½-inch wide) and the flowers somewhat bigger than those of creeping lilyturf.
Liriope Care
Regardless if you are growing L. spicata or L. 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.
Types of Liriope
L. Muscari grows in clumps and is well-suited for edging; leaves are 3/8 and 1/2 inches wide with larger flowers. L. spicata has narrower leaves and smaller, lighter-hued flowers.
Pruning
These ornamental grass look-alikes spread via rhizomes, which helps them spread and makes them invasive plants in some regions. To keep the liriope looking nice and neat, mow or shear the foliage back to the ground during the late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Propagating Liriope
The best time to propagate liriope is in the very late fall or early spring. Dividing liriope is not necessary for the health or longevity of the plant but is often done to control the current plant's spread in an area or to add the plant to another part of the garden or landscape. Division is best attempted after the third growing season.
How to Grow Liriope From Seed
Growing liriope from seed is a multi-step process. Since growing from division is easier, the elaborate routine for seed sowing is a less favorable propagation method. The best time to plant seeds is about eight weeks before the last frost date. Here's how to start the process:
Potting and Repotting Liriope
Liriope is most often used as ground cover, but it can also be grown in pots. Grow the plant in moist, well-drained soil, such as quality general-purpose potting mix. The container should be large enough for the plant to grow for two to three years—at least 3 inches longer and deeper than the specimen.
Overwintering
This evergreen plant is hardy to USDA zone 4, which means, depending on where you live, it may stay green year-round. However, in winter, it will enter a dormant state and stops growing. Some choose to trim it down to right above the crown, or you can leave it intact. Either way, trim off dead, browned leaves.
How to Use Liriope
L.muscari grows in rather tight clumps. Use ‘Big Blue’ or ‘Variegata’ as edging plants to neatly outline walkways, or as border grass to define the margins of landscape islands. The clumps stay put without sending runners into adjacent plantings.
How to Grow Liriope
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.
Propagating Liriope
Propagate by division and transplanting. Divide L. muscari by lifting plants in spring and using a spade or garden knife to cut sections with at least 3 to 5 shoots each. Transplant L. spicata plants individually from areas of high density to new or low-density areas.
How to Care for Liriope
Liriope are low-maintenance plants with few problems. Slugs and snails may chew on the foliage but rarely do these mollusks cause significant damage. Pick them off as you see them, and employ slug traps if damage becomes excessive.
Types of Liriope
Liriope comes in clumping or spreading forms, and deep green or variegated foliage. In late summer tiered whorls of flowers are followed by black berries in the fall. Though they differ in appearance, they have similar growing needs and are treated similarly.
Does Liriope Need to Be Divided?
Beyond planting, liriope requires little care from homeowners. Resistant to most diseases, these plants grow larger and may spread from one season to the next. Consistent irrigation and fertilization will further assist in the establishment of healthy plantings.
How to Divide a Liriope
Although dividing liriope is not a mandatory part of its care routine, there are reasons why a grower may want to do so. Splitting liriope is an extremely easy and cost-effective way to increase the amount of plants in the garden, or to begin the process of establishing new flower beds.
Liriope muscari Characteristics
Commonly called big blue lilyturf, Liriope muscari is native to areas of China, Japan and Taiwan and doesn’t tend to spread aggressively like Liriope spicata.
Liriope spicata Characteristics
Liriope spicata, commonly called creeping lilyturf, is native to China and Vietnam and, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension, can quickly spread throughout the planting site. These aggressive growth habits mean that it doesn’t work well as an edging plant.
Preferred Growing Conditions
Both liriope varieties prefer the same cultural conditions for healthy and robust growth. Best of all, no serious diseases or pests are problematic to either plant, although slugs and snails can sometime be a bother.
Different Cultivar Selections
Both types of liriope have cultivars that differ in size, flowers and foliage color, with Liriope muscari offering the biggest selection. All require the same cultural conditions for healthy growth.
Growth Habit
Size
- Liriope muscari variegata is a slower growing variety of the lily turf plant. Each clump grows to about 1 1/2 feet tall and about 2 feet wide when mature. Since it does not spread as quicklyas the plain green variety, it is easier to maintain in a garden.
Flowers
- The plant blooms in late summer and has pretty purple flowers on short stalks that sit above the plant. The flowers have a similarity to muscari, commonly known as the grape hyacinth bulb After flowering, variegated lilyturf produces clusters of blackish berries that persist in the autumn and early winter months.
Leaves
- The leaves of variegated lily turf have an aching habit with a medium green color. The leaves which are variegated with creamy yellow margins that are very pretty and add lots of interest and a pop of color in the garden.
Sunlight and Uses
- 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. Another great use of the variegated lilyturf is to plant it closely along the edge of a garden bed. It makes a very pretty garden border that grows t…
Soil and Cold Hardiness
- Liriope mucari variegata will grow in most soil types, but prefers well draining soil. I add a bit of compost around the plant in the spring and find that I don’t need to add any other fertilizer. The plant is also deer and rabbit resistant. Variegated lilyturf is a tough plant that is cold hardyin zones 5-10
Pruning Tips For Variegated Lilyturf
- The plant needs little maintenance but can get a bit shabby over the growing season. I like to use sharp scissors and give my plants a “haircut” before the active growing season each year, in early spring. New growth with sprout all over the plant and this pruning will remove the tattered leaves. If you don’t want to use variegated lilyturf as a ground cover, be sure to remove the small plants …
Height/Spread
Ornamental Features
- Lilyturf forms a dense evergreen groundcover with a grass-like appearance. It blooms in July to August with lavender, purple, pink or white flower spikes. Although the flowers are individually small, they are very showy, since each plant has many spikes of blooms. Clusters of bluish black berry-like fruit follow the flowers.
Landscape Use
- Liriope can be used as a groundcover under trees and shrubs and as a massed planting on slopes and banks. Liriope muscariand its cultivars can also be used as low edging plants along paved areas or in front of foundation plantings. Liriope is remarkably tough. It will grow in deep shade or full sun, sand or clay. It can endure heat, drought and salt spray, but will not take “wet feet”; it req…
Problems
- Reddish-brown spots that appear along leaf margins and leaf tips are caused by a fungal disease known as anthracnose, which is caused by Colletotrichumspecies. This disease becomes more prevalent with frequent rainfall or overhead irrigation. It causes a rapid dieback of the foliage. The fungus can remain over-winter in dead foliage. Mow or trim off last year’s leaves in late winter t…
Species & Cultivars
- Big Blue Lilyturf (Liriope muscari): This lilyturf grows in a clump form, making it well-suited for edging. The leaves are a little wider (3/8 to ½-inch wide) and the flowers somewhat bigger than those of creeping lilyturf. 1. ‘Majestic’ is a strong grower that grows to 12 to 15 inches tall. It has large, showy, deep lilac flowers and ½-inch wide dark foliage. 2. ‘Monroe’s White’ has bright whit…