Big Blue Liriope muscari
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Liriope exiliflora
- Liriope gigantea
- Phonetic Spelling
- lih-RYE-oh-pee mus-KAY-ree
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Liriope is a perennial, evergreen, herbaceous, clump-forming, tufted plant, in the asparagus family. It has narrow, grass-like leaves that can grow up to 18" tall. It blooms in late summer with spikes of purple flowers that are followed by nearly black berries. This plant is rhizomatous and has small potato-like swellings on roots.
This plant tolerates a wide variety of well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate almost full shade but growth is slow and elongated. Use this plant for edging, rock gardens, containers, woodland settings or as a ground cover. It is drought and deer tolerant, moderately salt-tolerant, and can be used as a lawn alternative but does not tolerate foot traffic well.
Quick ID Hints:
- Plant is acaulescent and tends to form clumps
- Berries are aborted before winter
- Linear leaves are about .5-1" wide
- Plant is rhizomatous
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Lush Foundation Planting Cottage Style Foundation Planting Backyard Planting Asian Garden- Pathway
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Evergreen Giant'
- 'Marc Anthony'
- 'Royal Purple'
- 'Silver Sun'
- 'Vriegata'
- 'Webster'
Pale violet-purple flowers - 'Evergreen Giant'
- 'Evergreen Giant', 'Marc Anthony', 'Royal Purple', 'Silver Sun', 'Silvery Sunproof', 'Vriegata', 'Webster'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Evergreen Giant'
- 'Marc Anthony'
- 'Royal Purple'
- 'Silver Sun'
- 'Vriegata'
- 'Webster'
Pale violet-purple flowers - 'Evergreen Giant'
- 'Evergreen Giant', 'Marc Anthony', 'Royal Purple', 'Silver Sun', 'Silvery Sunproof', 'Vriegata', 'Webster'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Liriope
- Species:
- muscari
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Play Value:
- Defines Paths
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are a 1/3" globose berry that start green and ripen to a shiny black.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers small, purple, densely clustered, 6-parted, and appear on an elongated 6-8" spike-like raceme with congested rachis. Blooms late summer.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Slippery
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are narrow, grass-like, linear-ligulate, 1" X 2', dark green.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are acaulescent.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Salt
