Liriope Spicata

Liriope spicata - Creeping Lilyturf (Liliaceae) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Liriope spicata is a perennial, mat-forming USAGE groundcover that is best used in shady areas, erosion- Function prone sites, or areas with thin soils. Creeping Lilyturf -dense evergreen groundcover for either shady sites has sparse inflorescences in mid-summer nestled or erosion control sites, usually found as either a within the evergreen, turf-like foliage. solid mass planting or as an edger -special usages for Creeping Lilyturf include its FEATURES placement around the bases of mature trees (in spite Form of surface roots and thin soil near the trunk), in a -medium-sized, herbaceous evergreen perennial backyard woodland (as an evergreen edger to define groundcover (sometimes considered as a miniature a walking path, including winter under conditions of evergreen ornamental grass-like plant) light snowfall), and in a small neglected foundation -maturing at 1' tall and slowly but progressively area (where it will choke out weeds and tolerate dry spreading at its perimeter via underground rhizomes soil) arching mat growth habit, forming a very dense turf- Texture like groundcover -fine texture -slow growth rate of spread at its perimeter -thick density Assets -fine-textured evergreen foliage that resembles turfgrass -fallen leaves can be easily raked free from its linear foliage in autumn, unlike most groundcovers where leaf litter becomes entangled -readily transitions from partial sun to full shade Culture within the same planted area, with little change in -partial sun to full shade color, vigor, density, height, and overall appearance -performs best in moist, fertile soils in partial shade, tolerant of dry soils, thin soils, and compacted clay but will tolerate very dry, poor, and thin soils in soils sunny or shady sites -good for erosion control on embankments, although -propagated primarily by division of the many establishment is initially slow adjoining crown segments Liabilities -Lily Family, with virtually no disease or pest -slowly invasive peripheral rhizomes problems -slow growth rate and establishment -moderate availability in containers or flats -flowering is subtle and very poor as compared to -mow the old semi-evergreen foliage to the ground in Liriope muscari late winter or very early spring to allow vigorous new Habitat growth to emerge unimpeded from the crowns -Zones 4 to 10 Foliage -Native to China and Japan -linear dark evergreen "blades" of foliage (whose ends will eventually bleach-out or "burn" during the SELECTIONS coldest portions of most winters) Alternates -leaves are 0.25" wide x 1-1.5' long, but due to their -evergreen to semi-evergreen groundcovers arching habit are about 1' high in summer, and (Euonymus fortunei var. coloratus, Hedera helix, become increasingly prostrate with repeated snow Pachysandra species, Vinca minor, etc.) loads during winter groundcovers that flower in mid- to late summer -foliage resembles very vigorous turfgrass, hence the (Liriope muscari) common name -short ornamental grasses (or grass-like plants), Flowers especially those that tolerate some degree of shade -white, violet, or lavender inflorescences, on 10" (Acorus gramineus 'Argenteostriatus' ('Variegatus'), stalks during July and Aug., sparsely borne and often Carex species, Glyceria maxima 'Variegata', Luzula unnoticed within the attractive dark-green foliage, species, etc.) and not ornamentally significant Variants Fruits -the species form of Liriope spicata is the only choice -sparsely borne black round fruits mature in Sept.- available Oct. and persist throughout the winter, being held on -the much more common species: upright stalks, yet inconspicuous amongst the dense -Liriope muscari - Blue Lilyturf, a slightly less cold dark green foliage hardy form having a clump growth habit with wider and much more showy foliage, has several cultivars noted for leaf variegation and/or prominent flowering .

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