Product Description
Liriope spicata (3.5-inch pot)
Creeping Lily Turf
- Height: 12-15 Inches
- Spread: 12-24 Inches
- Hardiness Zone: 4/5-10
- Sun to Shade
- Evergreen - cut back late Winter
- Lavender flower spikes- Mid-Summer
- Fast and aggressive creeper by rhizomes
- Use for ground cover and mass planting in controlled areas
- Very good for erosion control in controlled areas
- Not for borders, edging or mixed beds
- Moderately salt tolerant
Liriope spicata has narrow, ¼" green leaf blades. Blooms with pale lavender to near white flower spikes mid-Summer. Spicata Liriope spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes. Spicata, commonly called Creeping Lily Turf, should be planted in controlled areas. Perfect for erosion control on banks, slopes and contained large bed plantings. Not recommended for borders or mixed beds.
Liriope grass, also called lilyturf, border grass, or monkey grass, looks a lot like a grass, but actually is a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae,
Liriope tolerates a wide range of soils and soil conditions, though it doesn't like constantly wet or boggy soil.
During the first growing season, water the plants regularly, at least 1 inch of water per week. Once established, liriope plants are relatively drought-tolerant.
Liriope can be mow during the late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Use liriope as a groundcover, an edging plant to mark pathways or borders, naturalize under large trees, and in mass plantings for erosion control. A dense mat of liriope can stabilize soil on slopes and ditch banks. Liriope is a low-maintenance plant that is drought and deer-resistant.
Liriope spicata, also known as creeping lilyturf, is a versatile and low-maintenance groundcover that is popular in landscaping. Here is what you should know about it:
Appearance and Characteristics
- Evergreen foliage: Liriope spicata has grass-like, narrow leaves that are typically dark green, providing year-round interest.
- Spreading habit: It spreads by underground rhizomes, forming a dense mat of foliage over time.
- Flowers: In late summer, it produces spikes of small, usually lavender or purple flowers that rise above the foliage. Some varieties may have white flowers.
- Berries: Flowers are followed by the development of blackish berries in the fall.
Growing Conditions
- Sunlight: Liriope spicata tolerates a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade. However, it tends to thrive best in partial shade.
- Soil: It prefers well-drained soil but can adapt to various soil types, including clay and sandy soils.
- Watering: Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant, but it appreciates regular watering during dry periods.
Uses in Landscaping
- Groundcover: Liriope spicata is an excellent choice for covering large areas where you want a low-maintenance, weed-suppressing groundcover.
- Erosion control: Its dense root system helps to stabilize soil on slopes and prevent erosion.
- Edging: It can be used to create a neat border along pathways, flower beds, or around trees.
- Underplanting: It is a good option for planting under trees or shrubs, as it tolerates shade and does not compete heavily for nutrients.
Benefits
- Low maintenance: Liriope spicata requires minimal care once established.
- Drought tolerant: It can withstand periods of dry weather.
- Pest and disease resistant: It is generally not susceptible to major pest or disease problems.
- Deer resistant: Deer tend to avoid eating liriope.
Potential Drawbacks
- Spreading habit: Liriope spicata can be aggressive and spread beyond its intended area. It may require occasional trimming or division to control its growth.
- Self-seeding: It can produce seeds that may germinate and create new plants in unwanted areas.
Additional Tips
- Planting: The best time to plant liriope spicata is in the spring or fall.
- Spacing: Space plants about 12-18 inches apart, depending on how quickly you want the area to fill in.
- Maintenance: Mow or trim the foliage in late winter or early spring to remove any dead or damaged leaves.
If you are looking for a reliable and attractive groundcover that can thrive in a variety of conditions, Liriope spicata is definitely worth considering.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
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Liriope spicata
I ordered 100 plants, and they arrived well packaged, healthy and hydrated. They are thriving in the ground. I will order again.
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Well-grown plants that arrived in excellent shape
Plants had plenty of foliage up top. Roots were packed pretty tightly in those pots; they'd been in there a while; but I cut the roots up before planting and don't expect the plants to have any trouble realizing they now have room to grow outside a three-inch space. Liriope are not likely to be troublesome and these look good.
