Although Liriope looks like a true grass, it is a perennial member of the Asparagus family and sends up purple or white flower spikes in summer. Liriope comes in two types: Liriope spicata, which spreads by underground runners, sometimes aggressively in parts of the United States; and Liriope muscari, which grows in a clump from tubers. Both types are fully winter hardy in USDA zones 5-10 and are semi-evergreen throughout the winter.
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Plant Liriope in full sun and in well-draining, moderately rich soil for the best growth. Liriope is extremely low-maintenance and can literally be mowed down in late winter before new growth begins. Mulch the root zone with 1-2 inches of organic compost each spring to suppress weeds and enrich the soil.
To keep the spread of Liriope spicata in check, grow it in a container or behind barriers in the soil, similar to growing mint or bamboo. Sinking metal or plastic garden edging that is at least 6 inches tall will help to control the spread of this plant between your lawn and garden bed.
Shrubs To Plant With Liriope
Use Liriope muscari as a facer plant for taller shrubs in a full sun location. The grass-like foliage will provide high contrast against conifers and broadleaf evergreens. Position it to conceal any bare lower stems on deciduous flowering shrubs like viburnum, rose of Sharon, spirea, weigela, and lilacs. Liriope’s dense foliage and late summer lavender flowers are sure to draw attention.
The fast-spreading Liriope spicata works well to control erosion on a slope. It tends to overrun less aggressive plants and should be planted cautiously.
Perennials To Plant With Liriope
Liriope is great for providing a textured backdrop for long flowering plants like shasta daisies, coneflowers, cuphea, and showy milkweed. These perennials attract pollinators and provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Daylily and Liriope make a lovely combination and have distinct blooming cycles to provide color over many months. Plant smaller clumping evergreen grasses like carex and tufted hair grass with Liriope to add texture and movement along driveways, sidewalks, or fence lines.
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Annuals To Plant With Liriope
Liriope makes a great edging plant to dress up and define a bed of annuals. Some sun-loving and easy-to-grow bedding plants include wax begonias, dusty miller, ageratum, salvias, and sweet potato vine. For high contrast, zonal geraniums, canna lilies, petunias, and sun-tolerant coleus can be planted with Liriope, providing a long season of bright color. The annuals can be changed from year to year to reflect popular color and plant trends.
Best Companion Plants For Liriope in Containers
Clump-forming Liriope muscari will happily grow in a container placed in an entryway or outdoor seating area. It makes a nice filler plant at the base of an evergreen topiary. Liriope’s grasslike foliage will play off the strong forms of azaleas, Japanese maples, canna lilies, and elephant ear. For a modern and minimalist look, try growing Liriope as a solo specimen in multiples of the same planter. The containers can be used to delineate an area on a deck or along a wide walkway, giving a garden border a more formal feeling.
Plants Not To Grow With Liriope
Aggressively spreading plants like rhizomatous grasses or self-seeding annuals are difficult to maintain in a bed or border of liriope. The mix of aggressive plants can often look weedy and requires fastidious editing of unwanted plants. When growing Liriope near a lawn, use hardscape edging to separate the areas and give a definitive edge that stands up to repeated use of weed whackers or lawn mowers.
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Best Plants To Grow With Liriope
Liriope muscari is a great edging plant for partially shaded locations and remains well-behaved around other plants. Pair it with low-maintenance and durable perennials like daylily, crocosmia, sedge, blue fescue, or bearded Iris. Liriope is often planted in large numbers for a grass-like, ground cover effect. Intersperse it with mondo grass to create an interesting tapestry of dark and light colors.
Sources: "Liriope." The North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. plants.ces.ncsu.edu