Lilyturf is a perennial, evergreen tufted or rhizomatous ornamental groundcover in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family. The name liriope is derived from new Latin and is a nymph in Roman mythology. Though it may resemble an ornamental grass it is not a true grass. 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. Flowers are spike-like clusters of pale violet to white, 6-parted, on elongated stems appearing in mid to late summer. The fruit is a blue-black berry. It tolerates salt spray, heat, drought, and heavy shade.
It forms a dense, uniform cover, unlike Liriope muscari, which forms clumps until well established several years after planting. This plant spreads quickly by rhizomes and can invade adjacent turf areas or other ground cover beds. Therefore, this Liriope may be best suited for planting in a bed surrounded by a hardscape or confined with an edging (root barrier) that is 18 inches deep. It will grow well as erosion control on banks or as edging underneath trees or around shrubs where nothing else will grow. However, like other Liriope, it will not tolerate regular foot traffic. Liriope beds can be mowed each spring before the new growth begins to eliminate last year's unsightly foliage.
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Hardiness | 4,5,6,7 |
| Heat Zones | 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Asparagaceae |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring, Winter, Mid Spring, Late Spring |
| Height | 1' - 2' |
| Spread | 1' - 2' |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Acid |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen, Deer Tolerant, Rabbit Tolerant |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Formal Garden |
| Planting Place | Beds and Borders, Edging |