Royal Purple Liriope, Monkey Grass | American Meadows (2024)

FAQs

Does Royal Purple Liriope spread? ›

Unlike other Liriope varieties that spread wildly, Royal Purple forms neat clumps that gradually increase in size over time, making it a perfect choice for use as a border along walkways and paths or as an evergreen groundcover in landscape beds and under trees.

Both are generically called monkey grass. While liriope also goes by lily turf or spider grass, ophiopogon's common name is mondo grass. Liriope is larger, has wider blades, and comes in lighter colors than mondo grass. They are both used as ornamental grasses in borders, beds, slopes, and edging.

An evergreen perennial, liriope — also known as lilyturf and monkey grass — makes a great ground cover and border plant in the landscape.

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, monkey grass is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates a wide range of light conditions and soils.

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.

It depends on which type of liriope you are growing. Liriope muscari is the clumping form of liriope which is pretty well behaved. Liriope spicata is a running form which is quite invasive and can overtake perennials and other small plants in its wake. It usually does not hurt large trees or shrubs.

Another trouble spot is dense growing vegetation such as "monkey grass." These plants, commonly used as borders in flower beds, grow thick and close to the ground. When combined with a little shade, they make an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Creeping Lily Turf, known scientifically as Liriope spicata, is a groundcover plant that's garnered a reputation for being dog-friendly. Unlike some of its botanical cousins, it doesn't contain the toxic alkaloids, glycosides, or saponins that can wreak havoc on a dog's system.

Liriope muscari 'Variegata' has wide, ½", variegated leaf blades, green with yellowish to white margins. Blooms with full, lavender, flower spikes mid-Summer. Variegated Liriope stays in clump form. It does not spread by rhizomes.

Liriope Muscari (Monkey Grass)

This low-growing flowering plant was imported from Asia and is known for its low growth and low maintenance requirements. It will grow just about anywhere and will tolerate drought, heat and high humidity and it will grow in both sunny and shady areas.

Should monkey grass be cut back every year? ›

The good news is that monkey grass produces a new set of leaves each spring so you can easily replace that old growth with a lush, green border for spring. Timing: It's best to trim in the late winter or early spring before new shoots appear.

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.

But taking action in our own yards can also be an empowering act of hope for the future of our environment. One extremely popular plant that has recently been showing its invasive qualities and is on invasive lists in various northern Virginia jurisdictions is Liriope, commonly called Monkey Grass or Lilyturf.

Monkey grass, known also as mondo grass, is a spreading plant which begins growing in the spring of each year. Since monkey grass spreads its roots and grows out from where you originally plant it, it's perfect for transplanting. Dig up chunks of the plant, including the roots, and replant them in shady areas.

Some monkey grass like the Liriope spicata spreads aggressively, so you can fill in an empty hillside fairly quickly with it. Those varieties are better for ground cover than in a garden since it will choke out all the other plants.

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.

A better-behaved liriope is Liriope muscari, the “clumping” kind that does not spread by runners and basically stays where you put it. It blooms purple, not white like spicata, but it shares all the good qualities of the spreading kind — incredible toughness and adaptability — without the invasive behavior.

They are only slightly different in appearance. Liriope muscari grows in a clumping form and will spread to about 12 to 18 inches wide. The leaf blades tend to be a little wider. With a narrower leaf, Liriope spicata spreads rapidly by underground stems (rhizomes) and will cover a wide area.

Muscari liriope should reach a height of 12 to 15 inches and form a 12 to 18 inch clump. Spacing would depend on how "solid" you want your line to appear, but should be at minimum 10 to 12 inches apart, and no more than 18 inches.