About Liriope muscari (Decne.) L.H.Bailey
Liriope muscari (Decne.) L.H.Bailey is a native understory plant found in shady forests of China, Japan, and Korea, growing at elevations between 101 and 1,402 meters (330 to 4,600 feet). It typically reaches 30 to 45 centimeters (12 to 18 inches) in height, and forms clumps of strap-like, arching, glossy dark green leaves that grow up to 1.3 centimeters (½ inch) wide. Clumps expand slowly to around 30 centimeters (12 inches) wide via short stolons, and do not spread aggressively. It has fibrous roots that often develop terminal tubers. In late summer, small, showy flowers grow on erect spikes, arranged in tiered whorls of dense blooms that range from white to violet-purple, rising above the plant’s leaves. The flowers resemble those of grape hyacinth (Muscari), which gives this species its specific epithet. After flowering, the plant produces blackish berries that often persist through the winter. This species, commonly called lilyturf, is deer resistant. A number of recognized cultivars exist, with considerable variation in leaf color and size among them. Distinguishing different species in the genus Liriope is very difficult, and misidentification is common in commercial nurseries. L. muscari can be told apart from Liriope spicata, the other most common species in the genus, by several key traits: it has a fibrous root system rather than a rhizomatous one, it produces a more prominent flower spike that extends above the leaves (creeping lilyturf has a shorter spike that stays mostly within the foliage), and it generally has wider and longer leaves. In cultivation, L. muscari is used in landscaping for borders along sidewalks, trails, driveways, shrubbery, and trees, as well as for mass plantings as groundcover. It can be established on steep slopes for erosion control, and requires minimal maintenance. Because it is easy to grow, it is one of the most popular groundcovers in the southeastern United States and regions with a similar climate, and is widely used as a border plant and groundcover in landscaping across temperate climates. In the United Kingdom, Liriope muscari has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This species grows easily in average, medium, well-drained soils, and tolerates locations from full sun to part shade. Its ideal growing conditions are moist, fertile soils with partial shade, but it tolerates a wide range of light and soil conditions. It is also tolerant of heat, humidity, and drought. Its evergreen foliage often turns brown in late winter; old foliage can be cut back or mown at a high height before new shoots emerge in early spring. It is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 10, and may be grown in zone 5 when planted in sheltered locations or protected during severe winter weather. In traditional Chinese medicine, the roots of this plant, which often have fleshy tubers near their tips, are used as a medicinal ingredient.
