Purple Explosion™ Lilyturf

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-12 Inches

Mature Spread

8 Inches

Growing Zones

5 to 11

Purple Explosion™ Lilyturf puts on a late-season show with deep purple flower spikes held cleanly above a tidy mound of green, weeping foliage. It stays compact, usually 8–12 inches tall and about 8 inches wide, fitting nicely in tight spaces. Liriope muscari 'EXC 051' is known for heavier bloom than many older liriope types. The flower spikes mature into beautiful dark berries in the fall. 

This lilyturf stays evergreen in much of its range and keeps a dense clumping habit, which makes it easy to repeat in patterns. Once established it handles short dry spells and performs well in evenly moist beds, including along the drier edge of a rain garden. The foliage holds up well in urban conditions and even tolerates some salt exposure. Use it to stripe a walkway, ring shrubs as a clean “green cuff,” or mass it on a slope where roots help hold soil in place. We like that this edging plant still looks composed when the rest of the border is winding down for fall.

Purple Explosion™ Lilyturf Care

Give Purple Explosion™ full sun to partial sun for the best flowering, although it will tolerate some shade if the site is bright. Plant in average to well-drained soil that you can keep evenly moist during establishment, with a soil pH that’s slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (about 6.0–7.5 works well). If your soil is heavy, mix in compost to improve structure so moisture stays consistent but not soggy.

Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, and keep an eye on new plantings during hot or windy weeks since containers and raised beds dry faster. A balanced, all-purpose fertilizer in early spring is usually enough; in lean soils, a light second feed in early fall can support flowering. In colder winters the foliage may bronze or flatten, but the clump rebounds when growth resumes.

In late winter or very early spring, shear or trim off tired leaves to about 2–3 inches before new blades push up, which refreshes the clump. If the center starts to thin, divide the plant in early spring every few years and replant the strongest outer pieces. For containers, shelter the pot from repeated freeze-thaw cycles by moving it to an unheated garage or against a protected wall.

Purple Explosion™ Lilyturf Spacing

Space plants 10–12 inches apart for a defined edging that closes in neatly, or 8–10 inches apart if you’re trying to cover ground faster. In containers, a 10–12 inch pot suits one plant, while a wider bowl lets you group three for a fuller look. For landscape pairings, try hellebore for winter structure, astilbe for contrasting plumes in early summer, and sedum for a dry-tolerant counterpoint nearby. For container companions, use pansies for cool-season color and switch to coleus once nights stay warm.

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