how to plant liriope

Liriope Care Both species are tough plants that can grow in sandy or clay soil, as well as in full sun or part shade. The only "must-have" for a liriope plant is well-drained soil. Plant each liriope about 1 foot apart, keeping in mind that L. spicata will spread, as it's a creeping plant.

How far apart do you plant Liriope?

Variegated Liriope Spacing

For a grassy ground cover, space plants 18 inches apart on-center. For an accent plant, space at least 24 inches apart.

Can you plant Liriope in full sun?

Liriope is remarkably tough. It will grow in deep shade or full sun, sand or clay. It can endure heat, drought and salt spray, but will not take “wet feet”; it requires moist, well-drained soil.

What can I plant next to Liriope?

Complement your Liriope with these varieties:

Geranium, Perennial. Low growing and colorful, Cranesbill Geranium makes a good companion for Liriope.
Blue Fescue. Mixing Blue Fescue and Liriope together on a sunny hillside is an attractive option.
Lamium.

Which Liriope Cannot spread?

Liriope muscari is the "clumping" kind that does not spread by runners and basically stays where you put it. It blooms purple, not white like spicata, but it shares all the good qualities of the spreading kind - incredible toughness and adaptability - without the invasive behavior.

Is Liriope poisonous to dogs?

Walter Reeves lists liriope as a plant that can cause stomach upset when large quantities are consumed even though the berries or plant are not specifically listed as poisonous. Avoid consuming any part of the plant and keep pets away from the berries if you suspect a problems with accidental consumption.

Is Liriope fast growing?

Liriope spreads quickly. It can grown as a border plant or as a ground cover. Plant about 12-18″ apart in well tilled soil.

Are you supposed to cut back liriope?

It is not necessary, but homeowners and landscapers often trim liriope just prior to spring to remove old-looking and tattered foliage. Time the pruning before new growth has started to emerge in the spring. The trimmed foliage is usually a good candidate for your compost.

Does Liriope stay green in winter?

Liriope spicata is green all summer—and winter—long. Japanese pachysandra is an extremely common ground cover for shaded landscapes. It spreads quickly and, once established, remains weed- and maintenance-free.

Does Liriope die back in winter?

They are almost semi-evergreen. They're not really an evergreen, but the foliage isn't harshly affected by a frost or a freeze. The foliage actually looks okay throughout most of the winter. Then come spring the old growth starts to die back and new growth emerges from the crown.

Why are my Liriope turning yellow?

It's caused by a strain of the fungus (Phytopthora) that caused the great Irish potato famine of the mid-1800s and that still is a common threat to rhododendrons. What usually happens is that a leaf or two in a liriope cluster first turns yellow. ... Unfortunately, the fungus can remain in the soil to reinfect new liriope.

Why are my Liriope not flowering?

Arid sites or poorly drained areas stress liriope plants and inhibit blooming. Moisture needs relate closely to sunlight. Sunnier, bloom-promoting areas require more moisture to keep liriopes performing at peak. Foliage may not suffer in low moisture, but blooming can be delayed or reduced.

Does all Liriope bloom?

Liriope will grow in full sun or partial shade. It does best in partial shade, especially in the southern US where the intense heat of summer can dry the plants out when exposed to full sun. ... The plants bloom in the late summer/early fall. The flowers appear on a stalk and can be white, blue or lavender.

Is Liriope an invasive plant?

Liriope species are included in the U.S. Forest Service publication “Invasive Plants of Southern Forests,” by James Miller, Erwin Chambliss, and Nancy Lowenstein (General Technical Report SRS-119). The Georgia Invasive Species Taskforce lists L. muscari as a Species of Concern, while the S.C.

How do you maintain Liriope?

To keep the liriope looking nice and neat, mow or shear the foliage back to the ground during the late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

How do you stop Liriope from spreading?

To control its spread, just sever the shoots with a shovel. The separated shoots most likely already have young roots growing from them. You can either replant these shoots to expand your planting or toss or compost them.

Do birds eat Liriope berries?

* What it is: One of the toughest and most versatile perennial flowers you'll ever grow, liriope 'Big Blue' has grassy-looking foliage and purple flower spikes that last from late August into early fall. It then gets non-messy, black berries that birds eat in fall. The foliage stays green most winters.

Is Big Blue Liriope invasive?

Liriope spicata is a low-growing perennial grass. It's often used as a groundcover or as an edging for walkways and garden beds, but it's aggressive and spreads fast. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't become invasive in your garden. Ornamental grasses are beautiful in the landscape.

Is Liriope a perennial or an annual?

Liriope muscari, commonly called lilyturf or blue lily turf, is a tufted, tuberous-rooted, grass-like perennial which typically grows 12-18" tall and features clumps of strap-like, arching, glossy, dark green leaves (to 1" wide).

Do bees like liriope?

Liriope (Liriope muscari), also called lily turf, blue lily turf and monkey grass, attracts bees with its spears of lavender flowers. ... Liriope blooms profusely in late summer and early fall. It provides essential nectar for bees after spring and early summer flowers die out.

Is liriope and monkey grass the same thing?

Species of Liriope are the plants most commonly referred to as "monkey grass," or sometimes "lily turf," and southern gardeners have either of two reactions to it: hate or love.

How do you divide Liriope?

Dividing liriope plants is fairly straightforward. When splitting liriope, growers will first need to dig up the plant and remove the root ball from the garden. Once the plant has been removed, carefully cut through the root ball using a sharp serrated knife or shovel for larger clumps.