Aztec Grass

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Partial Sun

(3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

12-15 Inches

Mature Spread

12-15 Inches

Growing Zones

6 to 10

Aztec Grass, Liriope muscari ‘Aztec Grass’, brightens shaded beds with arching blades striped green and silver and tops the show with dainty white blooms in midsummer. Each clump forms a neat fifteen‑inch fountain that fills gaps left by fading spring bulbs and keeps its color through the year. Because the foliage catches light even in dappled shade, designers reach for this perennial whenever a soft but eye‑catching accent is needed along walks or around patios. Its compact scale invites use where taller grasses overwhelm, and its reliable habit has earned it a place in countless public gardens across warm regions.

Beyond looks, Aztec Grass asks little but gives much. The plant remains evergreen in zones 7–11, resists browsing deer, and shrugs off brief dry spells once roots mature. Native to East Asia, it grows as a tidy clump rather than a rampant spreader, so it never out‑competes companions. Use it to edge mixed borders, tie together mass plantings beneath shade trees, spill from containers, or soften stone around pools and waterfalls. Its moderate growth rate means fewer divisions and less upkeep compared with faster‑running groundcovers.

Aztec Grass Care

Set divisions in spring or early autumn, planting at the same depth they grew in the nursery pot. Provide filtered light or morning sun and rich, well‑drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH; clay loosens well with added compost, while sandy beds benefit from extra organic matter. Water regularly the first season to anchor roots, then irrigate only during extended drought; monthly soaks suffice in average rainfall climates. A single application of balanced, slow‑release fertilizer each spring keeps foliage bicolor and dense without prompting floppy growth.

Maintenance stays simple. Shear or mow foliage to three inches in late winter before new shoots emerge, or hand‑trim browned tips if only a light refresh is needed. Division every three years rejuvenates crowded clumps and yields fresh stock for new plantings. In containers, shift root‑bound plants to the next pot size after two seasons and shelter pots from freezing temperatures in zone 7 gardens with a quick wrap of burlap.

Aztec Grass Spacing

Space plants 18-24 inches apart for a seamless ribbon along paths or a weed‑smothering carpet under shrubs; the wider distance allows airflow in humid climates and promotes graceful arching leaves. When grouped as groundcover on slopes, stagger plants in a zigzag grid twenty inches apart to close gaps quickly. A new specimen for a decorative pot performs best in a container twelve inches wide by twelve inches deep, providing ample room for root spread without drowning delicate crowns.