How fast does Liriope Muscari grow?
Caring for Liriope Space plants 15 to 18 inches each way for a solid cover in 2 or 3 years, but even at 2-foot spacing it will spread and fill in about 4 years. Liriope spreads in all directions to fill gaps, making it an effective ground cover, but it is not a good choice for borders around flower beds, as it may choke out other plants.Liriope can easily be grown in pots, particularly some of the dwarf varieties. It is known to spread as a grass-like groundcover, so you may have to thin the plant every 2-3 years. Plant it in well-draining soil, mixed with a decent amount of organic matter such as garden compost.Outstanding for erosion control, Liriope gracefully fills those spots where nothing else will grow and will choke out most weeds. Tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and even moist areas as well as resistant to deer and willing to thrive in hot, southern gardens, you will love this perennial’s hardy personality.Liriope is a low-maintenance plant that is drought and deer-resistant. It can flourish in most sun and soil conditions. There are two types of liriope that are commonly used in landscaping: liriope muscari and liriope spicata.
What conditions do Liriope muscari like?
How to care for Liriope muscari: Liriope thrives in well-drained soil with partial shade, though it can tolerate full sun. Overwintering. Liriope is an evergreen plant hardy to USDA zone 4, but it goes dormant in the winter and stops growing. Trim off dead, browned leaves that might encourage disease or pest activity. During intense cold snaps, protect the plant by covering it with a layer of leaves to prevent stress or plant death.Yes, many types of monkey grass thrive in shady areas, making them excellent for planting under trees or in low-light garden beds. Liriope muscari and mondo grass in particular tolerate shade very well, forming dense mats that suppress weeds and require little maintenance.The flower spikes are followed by pretty little blue-black berries. Liriope is evergreen plant in mild climates, but the leaves turn brown or have brown spots in cold winters from their dark green color. Not to fret… the liriope monkey grass will bounce back in spring when the weather warms up.Watering Your Liriope Once established, monkey grass is drought tolerant. In the first season after planting, they need regular water. Liriope prefers soil that is consistently moist but not soaked. Over watering can lead to root rot and then potentially crown rot.Best Plants To Grow With Liriope Pair it with low-maintenance and durable perennials like daylily, crocosmia, sedge, blue fescue, or bearded Iris.
When should Liriope be planted?
When to plant Liriope. Container-grown plants can be planted any time of years as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged, although the best time to plant is in spring or early autumn. If planting during the summer moths, water new plantings well during dry spells to ensure good establishment. Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Liriope variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.Caring for Liriope Space plants 15 to 18 inches each way for a solid cover in 2 or 3 years, but even at 2-foot spacing it will spread and fill in about 4 years. It grows at its best in acidic soils, but that isn’t a big deal, so if you have soil that is slightly alkaline, it will be just fine.Plant in partial shade where the liriopes will get some sun for part of the day. This will encourage good flowering. When planted in deeper shade, liriopes will be shy to flower. Alternatively plant in a sunnier spot if the soil does not dry out for weeks in summer or it can be watered.Liriope is remarkably tough. It will grow in deep shade or full sun, sand or clay. It can endure heat, drought and salt spray, but will not take “wet feet”; it requires moist, well-drained soil. Flowers are produced most freely in a sunny location.
What are the disadvantages of Liriope?
Disadvantages: Invasiveness: Liriope can sometimes become invasive in prime growing conditions. It spreads through underground rhizomes, and in some cases, it can outcompete other plants and become difficult to control. Liriope will grow in full sun – it needs a bit more water there – in partial shade and in full shade. Light full shade is probably best, and only very dark, gloomy corners beneath evergreens will give problems.Liriope is not fussy about light or soil conditions, but does best in a sunny spot with well drained soil. Space the plants 12 to 18 inches apart if you want to eventually carpet an area with foliage.Overwintering. Liriope is an evergreen plant hardy to USDA zone 4, but it goes dormant in the winter and stops growing. Trim off dead, browned leaves that might encourage disease or pest activity. During intense cold snaps, protect the plant by covering it with a layer of leaves to prevent stress or plant death.