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 muscari is a perennial, evergreen, herbaceous, clump-forming, tufted plant, with narrow, grass-like leaves that can grow as ground cover up to 18". It is cultivated for its herbaceous and ornamental qualities. It blooms in the summer-long blooming period. It produces berries that are aborted and leave berry-less scapes through the winter. This plant has the widest leaves of the liriopes. It is subject to a virus that causes flattened, cockscbomb-like flower scapes with congested flowers. It is drought tolerant, moderately salt tolerant, and can be used as a lawn alternative. The many variegated cultivars of this plant are very popular. This plant is rhizomatous and has small potato-like swells on roots. It grows in shade or partial shade, and does best in well-drained soil. This plant has pest and disease problems.
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN
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
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Silver Sun'
- 'Webster'
- 'Silver Sun'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Silver Sun'
- 'Webster'
- 'Silver Sun'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Liriope
- Species:
- muscari
- Family:
- Convallariaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Defines Paths
- Textural
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Mildly resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Poisonous
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers small, white to dark mauve, densely clustered, 6-parted, and appear on an elongated 6-8" spike-like raceme with congested rachis.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- 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, and are occasionally variegated.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are acaulescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Salt
