Liriope muscari, or lilyturf, is an evergreen clump of strappy leaves with spikes of purple flowers in late summer and autumn. It grows under trees where little else will, takes full sun as well, and needs one cut a year. This guide covers the varieties, how to plant it, where it grows in Australia, how it differs from mondo grass, and when to cut it back.
What liriope is
Liriope comes from East Asia and is a relative of asparagus, not a true grass. Liriope muscari forms a clump that slowly widens; it does not run. The flower spikes stand above the leaves from late summer and are followed by small black berries.
Choosing the right variety
| Variety | Height | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Giant | About 60 cm | The tallest. Massed under trees and along driveways |
| Big Blue | About 45 cm | The all-rounder for mass planting, with dense violet spikes |
| Royal Purple | About 40 cm | A deeper purple flower that shows well against pale gravel and rendered walls |
Where liriope grows in Australia
Liriope grows in every Australian capital, in sun or shade, and looks the same all year. That reliability is why it appears in so much commercial and council planting.
| Location | How it performs |
|---|---|
| Brisbane and south east Queensland | Very well, including through humid summers |
| Sydney and coastal NSW | Very well in sun or dry shade |
| Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania | Very good. Frost hardy once established |
| Adelaide and Perth | Good, and drought tolerant once settled |
| Darwin and tropical Queensland | Grows well where the soil drains |
Its strength is dry shade
Liriope is one of the few plants that grows well under an established tree, where the tree takes the water first and the light is limited. That combination defeats lawn and most groundcovers. With clivia and star jasmine, liriope is a reliable answer for the bare ground under a mature shade tree, and our guide to the best grasses for tree base planting covers spacing and soil preparation there. It also handles the opposite, full sun and the heat off a driveway, which few shade plants manage. In shaded courtyards it sits beside the plants in the best ground cover plants for shade.
Planting and caring for liriope
- Position. Anything from full sun to full shade. Flowering is heaviest with some sun.
- Soil. Any soil that drains. Dig in compost under trees, where the soil is poor and dry.
- Spacing. Set plants 25 to 40 cm apart, closer for quick cover. That is six to nine plants to the square metre for a mass planting.
- Water. Water weekly for the first couple of months. After that it needs water only in long dry spells, and a little more under large trees.
- Feeding. A light application of slow release fertiliser in spring is enough.
Cutting back and dividing
Like lomandra and dianella, liriope builds up old foliage and looks tired after a few years. Cut the whole planting back to about 10 cm in late winter, before new growth begins, and it returns fresh and dense within weeks. A hedge trimmer makes short work of a mass planting. Timing matters: cut too late and you remove the new leaves and the flower spikes with them.
Congested clumps can be lifted and divided in spring. It is the cheapest way to extend a planting, and it restores clumps that have stopped flowering well.
Liriope or mondo grass?
These two are often confused, and they do different jobs.
| Liriope | Mondo grass | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 30 to 60 cm | 5 to 10 cm dwarf, 20 to 30 cm standard |
| Leaf | Broader, more upright | Finer, softer |
| Flowers | Purple spikes above the leaves | Small and hidden |
| Growth rate | Moderate | Slow |
| Sun | Handles full sun | Prefers shade; browns in hot sun |
| Best for | Mass planting, borders, dry shade | Between pavers, fine edging |
For a flowering border that fills in reasonably quickly, choose liriope. For a low, crisp line between pavers, choose dwarf mondo, covered in our guides to mondo grass and to ground cover for in between steppers. The native plants for the same job are lomandra, covered in our Lomandra longifolia care guide, and dianella. Ornamental grasses for Australian gardens compares all of them, with planting densities.
Common problems
- Brown leaf tips. Usually old foliage, or dry soil in full sun. The winter cut removes it.
- Snails and slugs. They shelter in the clumps and chew new leaves. Check after cutting back.
- Rotting crowns. Waterlogged soil. Improve the drainage or plant on a slight mound.
- No flowers. Deep shade, a late cut, or a congested clump that needs dividing.
Common questions
Does liriope grow in full shade?
Yes. It is one of the best plants for dry shade under trees, though it flowers more with some sun.
When should I cut liriope back?
In late winter, before the new growth starts, to about 10 cm.
How far apart do I plant liriope?
25 to 40 cm apart, or six to nine plants to the square metre.
Does liriope spread?
Liriope muscari forms clumps that widen slowly. It does not run through the garden.
Ready to plant?
Liriope is sold in small pots and planted in numbers, so work out the length of the run before you order. Browse the full groundcover range or the wider grasses for landscaping collection to plan the whole border in one go.
