Okina Lilyturf

Okina Lilyturf (Liriope muscari 'Okina') lights up a shaded bed without a flower being involved. New leaves push out almost pure white and green up slowly as they mature, so an established clump carries both colours at once. It settles at about 30cm tall and 40cm across, holds that size for years, and is one of the few strappy plants we can list as pet friendly.

Why you'll love it

• White new growth, all year. Fresh leaves emerge close to pure white and darken with age, so the clump is two tone with no seasonal gap. Slim purple and white spikes follow in late summer.
• It stays the size you bought. Roughly 30cm by 40cm, clumping rather than running, so it will not creep into a lawn or swamp a small bed.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, which matters at ankle height along paths and borders.
• Tough where it counts. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant once established, from a Melbourne courtyard to a coastal Perth verge.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart for a continuous ribbon along a path or bed edge. At that spacing the clumps knit into one line within a season.

Mass planting. The same 30cm grid fills a bed under trees, where white new growth does the job flowers cannot in deep shade. Allow eleven plants per square metre.

Pots and small gardens. Three plants in a 400mm pot make a full clump for a courtyard or balcony, and the variegation shows best against a dark glazed pot.

Growing Okina Lilyturf in Australia

Position and climate. Filtered light or part shade is the sweet spot. Full sun bleaches and scorches the white sections of the leaf, and deep shade slows growth to a crawl. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and is frost hardy through southern winters.

Soil. Free draining soil improved with compost. Heavy clay that stays wet through winter will rot the crown, so raise the bed or work in coarse material first.

Water and feed. Water twice a week for two months, then weekly through summer. It is drought tolerant once established, though leaf tips brown in a long dry spell. A slow release fertiliser in early spring is all it needs.

Pruning. Almost none. Shear to about 10cm in late winter if the old foliage looks tired and it regrows clean within six to eight weeks. Divide congested clumps every three or four years.

What to expect when it arrives

Okina comes in a 140mm pack of ten and a 200mm pack of six. The 140mm plants are the value option for a long border and fill out over a season. The 200mm plants are bigger on day one and suit pots or a shorter run. Both sizes are on backorder, so check the lead time shown on this page.

Strappy plants travel well, so expect a few creased leaves out of the box, which is cosmetic and grows out. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every one carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Using liriope muscari in the landscape
• Choosing the right edging plants
• Browse grasses and strappy leaf plants
• More plants that are safe for pets

Common questions

Will the white foliage stay white?

Each leaf starts nearly white and greens up as it ages, so the clump always shows both. Filtered light keeps the new growth brightest, and in full sun the white sections scorch.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Liriope is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it is a sensible choice for paths and borders where pets brush past or dig.

Does it spread and become a weed?

No. This is a clumping liriope, not a running one, so it widens slowly from the centre and stays where you put it. Divide every three or four years if a clump gets congested.