Big Blue Liriope

Big Blue Liriope (Liriope muscari 'Big Blue') is the border plant to use when an edge has to stay neat with almost no help from you. It forms a compact clump of strappy deep green leaves about 45cm tall and wide, sends spikes of purple flowers up above the foliage, and performs the same trick in full sun or deep shade. Few plants cover the awkward strips of a garden this reliably.

Why you'll love it

• A clump, not a runner. Big Blue stays where you planted it and thickens in place, so it will not creep into lawns or smother its neighbours.
• Sun or shade, same plant. It handles full sun through to deep shade under established trees, which is exactly where most groundcovers quietly die.
• Purple spikes with visitors. The flower spikes bring bees and butterflies into the garden while they stand.
• Genuinely hard to kill. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and unfussed by poor soil. That list covers most of the difficult spots in Australian gardens.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart for a dense border. A single row turns a path or driveway edge into a clean green line within a couple of seasons.

Mass planting and groundcover. Set out on the same 30cm grid it knits into a solid low carpet, including under trees where lawn refuses to grow.

Retaining walls, slopes and pots. The arching foliage softens hard edges on wall tops and banks, and single clumps sit happily in containers for years.

Growing Big Blue Liriope in Australia

Position and climate. It grows from tropical and subtropical gardens through warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean climates, and it is fully frost hardy. Position is close to irrelevant: full sun, part shade and deep shade all work.

Soil. Any reasonable soil suits it, and it tolerates poor ground. Compost through the bed gets faster, lusher clumps, but it is optional rather than essential.

Water and feed. Water regularly for the first season while the roots establish, then let rain do most of the work. A light application of slow release fertiliser in spring is plenty.

Pruning. Once a year at most. In late winter, cut tired clumps back hard before the new season flush so the foliage comes away fresh.

What to expect when it arrives

Big Blue is sold in 140mm pots as a pack of ten, and in 200mm pots as a pack of six. The pack sizes make border maths easy: ten plants at 30cm spacing edges a 3m run. Liriope travels well and arrives as established clumps rather than fragile seedlings, settling in quickly at almost any time of year in mild climates. Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to growing Liriope muscari
• Browse the full groundcover range
• Plants for retaining walls and slopes

Common questions

Will it spread into my lawn?

No. Big Blue is a clumping form, not a running one. Each plant slowly thickens where it sits, so your edges stay where you drew them.

How far apart should I plant it?

30cm apart for a dense border or massed bed. Wider spacing still closes over, it just takes an extra season or two to get there.

Does it really grow in deep shade?

Yes. It is one of the few strappy plants that stays presentable in heavy shade under trees. Flowering is lighter there than in sun, but the foliage holds its shape and colour.

Should I cut it back?

Give tired or scrappy clumps a hard cut in late winter, just before new growth starts. Skipping a year does no harm at all.