Updated/Fact-Chacked on March 30, 2022 by John
Liriope Muscari is a great plant for giving you autumn colour whilst giving you architectural foliage; it looks like ornamental grass and works well with many other plants. Liriope Muscari is not to be confused with ‘Muscari’ (Grape Hyacinth), which flowers in spring and is a much smaller plant.
Liriope Muscari or most commonly known as Lilyturf is a tuberous-rooted grass-like perennial that grows up to 18 inches tall. Though it definitely looks like grass, it is considered as part of the family of Asparagaceae. This plant’s origin is from Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Taiwan which have both winter and tropical seasons.
The blooming season of Lilyturf is from August to September, we included this plant in our autumn flowering plant guide for those looking for colour after summer.
Liriope Muscari is also known as border grass because of its great edging characteristics. Liriope has another classification such as Liriope Spicata, which on the other hand is not good as a border plant but is advantageous as a groundcover. This also grows rapidly by underground stems and can cover a wide area.
Contents
Planting and Propagating Liriope Muscari
This plant can grow in well-drained soil and moist and fertile soils with partial shade. Growing a lilyturf doesn’t need high maintenance and can actually tolerate a wide range of light and soil conditions.
The best time to plant and propagate this type of plant is during autumn and spring because they become ready to set in warm soil before winter. When propagating, clear first the area and then cut the bottom of the plant below the bottom leaf node. Next, you must place the wet cutting in well-drained soil and then stick a finger into the soil. Put the plant cutting into the hole and then backfill. You can use a rooting hormone for faster growth.
Best Locations for Liriope Muscari
Liriope prefer partial shade positions in a garden, but like cyclamen, will thrice in full shade making them suited to east and north-facing positions. they also work well under trees. Liriope are best planted in the middle of a border due to their height of around 30cm.
Cold tolerance is a critical characteristic of lilyturf. Despite being evergreen, liriope enters a state of inactivity in the winter, when the plant’s leaves stop growing. You should begin the process of winterizing liriope plants as soon as possible for the greatest results.
Liriope Muscari Maintenance
Liriope Muscari is a low-maintenance plant, all they need is the right garden position slight acidic soil conditions. When summer arrives, this plant needs frequent watering but be sure that you water them in daylight to secure the draining. Liriope are also drought tolerant (to a degree), so don’t worry if you go away during the height of summer.
It’s the opposite when winter comes, watering should be cut and make sure that the soil is still dry. When finally getting the full bloom, make sure to cut rotted areas, especially the old leaves. You can make them more healthy, you can divide the large congested clumps during spring.
Liriope Muscari Problems and Solution
There are no complicated problems with this plant, however, there can appear reddish-brown spots on the tip of the leaves caused by a fungal disease. It can grow worse because of too much watering or if there’s too much rainfall or overhead irrigation. To cure this, you have to cut old leaves, specifically, 3 inches in height, and also remove all the debris that surrounds the plant.
You must also avoid watering it late in the day to have well-drained soil then you’re good to go. Another problem can be pests such as slugs, but don’t worry! As long as you remove all the debris away, you can easily locate them and get rid of them. Lilyturfs are one of the most trouble-free plants that you can have so it’s hustle-free.
Why choose Liriope Muscari?
Other than being a low-maintenance plant and the other benefits mentioned above, liriope are great for providing structured foliage when not in flower – especially the variegated leaf varieties.
Many gardeners love to plant lilyturfs because of their lavender-like qualities that are very pleasing to the eye, along with providing a calming scent. Liriope Muscari has also health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and also a stimulant. These benefits come from the roots.
Liriope Muscari Varieties in UK
There are also other varieties of Liriope Muscari below. Here’s a list that we want to share with you:
Big Blue Liriope Muscari
This is a blue-coloured spiky flowers type of lilyturf. It can grow up to 18 inches tall like usual lilyturfs and had actually received an award in AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Variegata Liriope Muscari
Just like other lilyturf, it’s grasslike or evergreen and it forms a loose clump of narrow leaves striped with creamy white colour. This is usually larger than other varieties. It usually blooms for weeks in late summer and fall
Monroe White Liriope Muscari
This variety produces white flowers in autumn that’s why it’s called Monroe white. It’s half-inch wide and has darker green leaves. This Liriope requires shade. They are very useful for controlling erosion on banks, slopes, large bed plantings, and in woodland gardens. This variety remains in clump form and does expand by roots.
Okina Lyriope Muscari
Okina is known for its unique leaves, which emerge in April as an uncommon yet lovely white. As the growing season proceeds, the leaves develop green speckles, eventually turning completely green by October. When late summer arrives, the clumps are topped with the usual stalks of lilac flowers. Liriope Okina is a wonderful plant that will definitely catch your attention.
Mary shares a passion for gardening with her husband John, though she is more focused on growing veg on their allotment at St. Margaret’s Allotments, Durham. Mary also works in the lawn care industry and manages the lawns for the Durham University campus.