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Liriope muscari (Blue Lily Turf)

Lily Turf, Blue Lily Turf, Monkey Grass, Big Blue Lilyturf, Liriope platyphylla, Ophiopogon graminifolius

AGM Award
Liriope Muscari, Lily Turf, Blue Lily Turf, Monkey Grass, Big blue Lilyturf, Liriope platyphylla, Ophiopogon graminifolius, AGM Perennial, Purple flowers, Evergreen perennial
Liriope Muscari, Lily Turf, Blue Lily Turf, Monkey Grass, Big blue Lilyturf, Liriope platyphylla, Ophiopogon graminifolius, AGM Perennial, Purple flowers, Evergreen perennial

Mostly grown for its attractive foliage, Liriope muscari (Blue Lily Turf) is an evergreen tuberous perennial forming a dense clump of narrow, arching, dark green leaves. For weeks in late summer and fall, erect spikes of thickly clustered, small violet-purple flowers, 6-8 in. tall (15-20 cm), appear on 5-12 in. stems (12-30 cm). They resemble grape hyacinth (Muscari), hence the Latin name. The blooms give way to round, shiny, black berries, which often persist into winter. Hardy and compact, Lily Turf is a popular foliage plant, particularly handsome when grown in large swaths or undulating rivers. Liriope muscari can be used as a lawn grass substitute, too.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm).
  • Performs best in light, moderately fertile, preferably acid, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Tolerates full shade but will produce more elongated foliage and spread more slowly. Shelter from cold, drying winds in frost-prone areas.
  • Lily Turf is a wonderful edging plant for walks, paths, pool decks, and narrow spaces and looks spectacular in mass plantings or as a ground cover. This is also an excellent choice for placing in front of shrubs or under trees for a fluffy effect.
  • Lily Turf is trouble-free: deer and rabbit resistant, heat, humidity, and drought tolerant (once established), and is virtually disease and pest free.
  • Cut old leaves down to the ground in spring to encourage fresh foliage.
  • Propagate by seed sown in containers outdoors in spring or propagate by division in spring
  • Native to China, Taiwan, and Japan.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 11
Climate Zones 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asparagaceae
Genus Liriope
Common names Lily Turf, Monkey Grass
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 12" - 18"
(30cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Full Shade, Drought, Deer, Rabbit
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Patio And Containers, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, City and Courtyard
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Liriope spicata (Creeping Lily Turf)
Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ (Variegated Lily Turf)
Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’ (Lily Turf)
Liriope muscari ‘Gold Band’ (Variegated Lily Turf)
Liriope muscari ‘Ingwersen’ (Lily Turf)
Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’ (Lily Turf)

Recommended Companion Plants

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ (Black Mondo)
Ajuga reptans ‘Catlin’s Giant’ (Carpet Bugle)
Colchicum speciosum ‘Atrorubens’ (Colchicum)
Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ (Autumn Fern)
Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Majestic Walkway
Best Foliage Plants for Your Garden
Native Plant Alternatives to Liriope spicata (Creeping Lily Turf)
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.
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Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 11
Climate Zones 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asparagaceae
Genus Liriope
Common names Lily Turf, Monkey Grass
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 12" - 18"
(30cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Full Shade, Drought, Deer, Rabbit
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Patio And Containers, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
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Liriope (Lily Turf)
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