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August 23, 2011

University of Maryland Extension: Plant of the Week

Liriope

Liriope muscari and Liriope spicata

Text and photo by Virginia Williams

Tough and adaptable, liriope is a stellar groundcover.

Liriope muscari, as shown in the photo, is a clumping form that stays in a clump and does not spread aggressively. Clumps continue to expand, but no runners are formed. It can grow in sun or shade or on the steepest slope.

Once established, it is drought tolerant. Its ribbon-like foliage can get as long as 18 inches and sports purple or white flowers in the summer. This clumping form is popular as edging.

Liriope spicata, on the other hand, is a spreading form that sends out runners. It is especially useful to control erosion, but should not be planted where it can get out of control.

Deer may nibble on it during the winter (saving you the trouble of cutting off old foliage), but liriope is not a big deer favorite.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Comments

I love lirope. I just wish I could have it survive here in Heath.

Posted by: commonweeder | August 23, 2011 4:26 PM

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About Susan Reimer

Susan Reimer has spent 16 years writing about raising kids - among other topics - in her column for The Baltimore Sun. And every time son Joseph or daughter Jessie passed another milestone - driver's license, college, wedding or a move to a new military duty station - she has planted another garden. Now she will be writing about those gardens - and yours - here on Garden Variety.

Susan isn't an expert gardener, but she wasn't an expert mother, either. Both - the kids and the gardens - seem to be doing well in spite of her.

She lives in Annapolis with her husband, Gary Mihoces, who loves to cut his grass but has noticed that there seems to be less of it every time the kids pass another milestone.

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