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Native Plant Alternatives to Liriope spicata (Creeping Lily Turf)

Native Plants, Invasive Plants, Liriope spicata,  Creeping Lily Turf, Lily Turf, Creeping Liriope, Liriope koreana

Liriope spicata, commonly known as creeping lilyturf or monkey grass, is a perennial, grass-like plant native to East Asia. It’s commonly used in landscaping for ground cover due to its tolerance of a variety of growing conditions and its attractive, evergreen foliage.

Creeping lily turf is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

While not invasive in every region, Liriope spicata is considered invasive in some areas, particularly in the southeastern United States. It spreads by rhizomes, forming dense mats that can outcompete native understory vegetation.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.

Guide Information

Hardiness 6 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 12
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Liriope
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Native Plants United States

U.S. Native Plant Alternatives to Liriope spicata (Creeping Lily Turf)

Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Sedge)
Carex plantaginea (Plantain-Leaf Sedge)
Dryopteris cristata (Crested Wood Fern)
Packera aurea (Golden Ragwort)
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern)
Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf Sage)
Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox)
Pachysandra procumbens (Allegheny Spurge)

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Native Plant Alternatives to Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn Clematis)
Native Plant Alternatives to Lonicera fragrantissima (Sweetest Honeysuckle)

Discover more beautiful native plants

Native Plants

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 6 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 12
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Liriope
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Native Plants United States
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Liriope (Lily Turf)
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United States

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