Posted by
Marylyn (Houston, TX - Zone 9a) on Jun 24, 2013 11:22 PM concerning plant:
I was given some liriope by a friend. It's a compact kind, with white flowers instead of lavender, but I don't know the name, so I am posting this comment under the general entry.
I planted one row of it around a tree in a shady bed, and it looked wonderful. Eight or so years later, it now fills the middle of the bed, wherever I don't have something else planted. It makes great "living mulch"! It keeps out most weeds, and doesn't seem to bother the new bushes at all. (We took out the original tree a few years ago.)
Its roots are very shallow, and it isn't too much of a chore to rip it out where it isn't wanted. It transplants to a new site very easily. It survived the nasty drought in 2011 (when most of the smaller monkey grass that was planted nearby died), and several cold winters haven't bothered it a bit.
Posted by
JuniperAnn (Coastal TX (Sunset 28/31) - Zone 9a) on Apr 26, 2019 3:56 PM concerning plant:
If you live in the southeastern USA, you already know this plant. It's a well-behaved, if not terribly exciting, workhorse plant. Tolerates drought and some flooding. No care at all. A classic for edges of flower beds since it forms very slowly spreading clumps that are easy to keep in check. Grow in part shade (in which case it will grow some nice but not attention-grabbing spikes of purple flowers in spring) or full shade (no flowers). Tolerates clay soil, alkaline soil, & dry shade.
Descriptions of this plant sometimes say that it will not tolerate flooding. I've read in a few sources that if the leaves turn brown after flooding, then that means that the roots have a fungal infection and the plant will die. I have a few plants that came with my house in flood-prone areas, and they keep trucking on. If their spot floods for several days, the leaf edges will turn brown and then slowly recover. So I guess they need good drainage in some climates / soils / situations, but they seem to be fairly flood tolerant here.
When buying do NOT just go by the dark green or variegated grassy appearance. Check the label! Look-alikes liriope spicata and members of the ophiopogon genus are aggressive, and should only be grown in pots or in isolated beds surrounded by concrete (or, better yet, not at all. A bed of just "monkey grass" isn't particularly attractive and if you don't constantly fight it, that's what you'll get).
Posted by
plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 19, 2011 4:20 PM concerning plant:
I see this plant often used as borders and edging in landscapes here in Florida. I keep it in a container because I've heard it can spread and get out of control.
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Apr 28, 2019 7:30 AM concerning plant:
Liriope muscari is the Big Blue Liriope that gets around 18 inches high and forms clumps that do not really spread much, if at all. The clump can be left undisturbed indefinitely. In southeast Pennsylvania I have only seen this species grown and planted as a white variegated cultivar that is commonly planted around by everyone and sold a lot at the big box stores, besides conventional nurseries. The other species of Liriope spicata (the Creeping Lilyturf) is shorter and almost always is dark green, except for a uncommon spotted cultivar, and slowly spreads like crazy and can invade everything unless grown by itself.