Liriope & Mondo Grass

LIRIOPE
Grown widely as groundcover and accent plants in the Southern & Mid Atlantic U.S.
They also grow well in much of the northern U.S. and in warmer parts of Canada such as British Columbia & Ontario.
Liriopes are very sturdy, very heat, drought, fire, hail and salt tolerant as well as rarely being bothered by pests and diseases other than the occasional anthracnose or root rot. They grow best with partial shade and moist, acid, light, well drained soils however these very tough plants will grow in sun or shade just about any where. Liripes should be pruned once a year each spring just before new growth begins to remove foliage that was damaged from winter. Large groundcover areas can be mowed with a sharp bladed lawn mover or electric clipper just BEFORE new growth begins in spring to get a fresh look. Generally evergreen; the Liripe can become deciduous in zones 5 & 6 and sometimes 7. Propagation is usually from division done during autumn or early spring.

Liriope minor ( Monkey Grass )
Also called Thin-Leaved Liriope. A perennial, reaching up to 1 x 3.3 feet, spreading at about 8 inches per year.
It is similar to Liriope muscari but with very fine, very narrow foliage up to 12 x 0.1 ( rarely over 8 ) inches in size. The foliage is bright green. It is a great lawn substitute for shaded sites and looks great mixes with large foliaged perennials or used for edging. It is native to eastern Russia, eastern China, Korea and most of Japan.
The lilac-blue flower spikes are borne during late summer.
They are followed by glossy black berries, up to 0.2 inches wide.
Hardy zones 6 to 7 ( 3b for seed source from Liaoning Province in China ) in full sun to partial shade.

Liriope muscari ( Lilyturf )
Native to eastern Asia ( from China to Korea & Japan; south to Vietnam to Taiwan ); this plant is usually grown for its foliage and is a very popular groundcover often substituting for lawns in shade and on steep slopes.
This species is generally considered a clumper since even though it is a rhizomatous spreader, it spreads much slower than the similar looking but invasive Liriope spicata. Clumps can reach up to 2 x 3 feet in size.
The narrow linear to lance-shaped leaves are up to 15 x 0.5 inches ( very rarely to 28 inches ) in size. The leathery, evergreen foliage is deep green.
The abundant but small blue-violet flowers, up to 0.3 inches wide, appear on upright spikes, to 5 inches long, sitting on top of an upright stalk to 15 inches high. They appear late summer into early autumn.
They are followed by small, persistent, black berries, up to 0.3 inches wide.
Hardy zones 5a to 8 ( deciduous in zones 5 & 6 ) preferring acidic soil. Drought tolerant.

* photo taken on Aug 27 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Amethyst'
Forms a moderate growing clump up to 30 x 34 inches in size.
The leaves are up to 28 x 0.3 inches in size. The narrow foliage is deep green.
The deep purple flowers appear during late summer into autumn.

'Big Blue' ( Big Blue Liriope )
One of the more common cultivars reaching up to 2 x 3 feet in size.
It has large tall spikes of blue flowers





* growing around Japanese Maple

* photo taken on April 11 2010 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 7 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Christmas Tree'
Forms a clump up to 1.3 x 2.6 feet in size.
The leaves average 18 inches in length.
The flowers are lilac in color

'Cleopatra'
Forms a fast growing clump up to 1.2 x 1.2 feet in 3 years, eventually up to 2 x 2 feet.
The slightly-twisted, narrow leaves are up to 18 x 0.7 inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green above, yellowish-green beneath.
The purple flowers are borne on racemes up to 18 inches long.
Hardy north to zone 6, it has superior disease tolerance.

* patent photo

'Curly Twist'
The leaves are twisted and green.
The flowers are deep lilac in color.

'Emerald Goddess'
A spoty of 'Evergreen Giant' rapidly reaching up to 2.5 x 3+ feet in size, spreading at a rate up to 1 feet per year.
The deep green foliage keeps its color well during winter. The leaves are up to 18 x 0.5 inches in size.
The intense purple flowers are borne on scapes up to 2 feet long, all summer long.
Hardy north to zone 5, it has superior phytopthora disease resistance compared to most liriope cultivars.

'Evergreen Giant'
"Liriope muscari on steroids" - it grows huge as a clump to 3.5 x 3 feet in size. Too tall for most landscapes as a groundcover but still a very cool looking ornamental grass substitute for the shade.
The leaves are up to 36 x 0.5 inches in size.
The violet flowers are borne on racemes up to 18 inches long.

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

'Gold Banded'
Foliage is yellow with dark green margins

'Ingwersen'
Foliage is dark green. Flowers are deep violet

'Isabella'
Forms a dense clump up to 22 x 34 inches in size.
Narrow foliage, up to 34 x 0.2 inches in size, gives it a grass-like appearance. The foliage is deep green.
The flowers are pink.
Hardy zones 6 to 9, very heat and humidity tolerance.

* patent photo

'John Burch'
Foliage is yellow striped in the middle. Flowers blue-lavender

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

'Lilac Beauty'
Lush green foliage. Blooms heavily! Flowers are deep lilac in color.

'Majestic'
Deep green leaves. Blooms heavily with deep lilac flowers on tall stems to 20 inches tall.

* photo taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.

'Monroe White'
Grows large for a Liriope with its wide dark green leaves reaching up to 26 x 1.5 inches in size on ideal sites. Blooms heavily with pure white flowers. This cultivar does have more of a tendency to scorch in full sun in the warmer parts of its range and is better left for sites with partial to full shade.

* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA

* photos taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Sep 10 2023 in Washington, DC

'Pee Dee Gold Ingot'
Forms a clump up to 1.5 x 3 feet. The foliage is bright yellow at first, later turning to yellowish-green.
The flowers are light purple.

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photo taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

* photos taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

'Precious Metals'
Also called 'Pontavia'. Forms a clump up to 1.5 x 3.3 feet.
The foliage is deep green with lime green to golden-yellow striations. The leaves are up to 21 x 0.6 inches in size.
The deep violet-purple flowers appear during late summer.
Hardy north to zone 5

* patent photo

'Purple Explosion'
Similar to 'Big Blue' but hardier with darker purple flowers. The leaves are up to 16 x 0.6 inches in size.
Hardy to zone 5

* patent photo

'Royal Purple'
Vigorous growing, with lush green leaves, up to 18 x 1 inches in size.
Blooms heavily with bright purple flower spikes to 8 inches in length.

* photo taken on July 17 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 13 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.

'Samantha'
To 15 inches in height with green foliage and pink flowers.

'Silvery Sunproof'
Green leaves with edges that are yellow during spring fading to white in summer.

* photo taken on Aug 25 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Sep 30 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 12 2015 in Columbia, MD

'Sno Cone'
Forms a vigorous clump up to 15 x 20 inches in 5 years, eventually up to 16 x 36 inches in size. It is similar to 'Okino' but taller with broader foliage that has better color retention.
The deep green foliage is longitudinally striped white. The leaves are up to 15 x 0.3 inches in size.
The deep purple flowers appear during mid-summer.
Hardy north to zone 5b

* patent photos

'Traebert White'
Reaches up to 2 feet in height with large white flowers.

'Variegata' ( Variegated Liriope )
Clumps reach up to 15 inches tall and 3 feet wide.
The foliage is green with yellow margins turning to creamy white as summer progresses. Looks great contrasting with darker foliage Coralbells. Used as an accent plant in front of landscape borders rather than as a groundcover.
The flowers are violet.








* photo taken on Sep 15 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 23 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC

* photos taken on July 9 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 31 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 24 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 21 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 8 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 21 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 17 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 5 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 22 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 4 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 13 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Webster Wideleaf'
Wide dark green foliage to 0.8 inches in width. The flowers are purple on stems to 18 inches in height.

* photos taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

Liriope spicata ( Creeping Lilyturf )
Finer narrower foliage than Liriope muscari and is certainly NOT a "clumper", forming clumps up to 1.5 x 4 feet. Spreading much faster than Liriope muscari; this species should be used only for large scale groundcover purposes only since it is a rapid growing to invasive rhizomatous spreader. Its long rhizomes up to 3 feet long are much too invasive for the perennial border. Creeping Lilyturf makes a great lawn substitute on shaded commercial sites and look outstanding.
The leaves can reach up to 15 x 0.3 ( rarely 24 inches ) in size.
White flowers appear August to September and are followed by berries up to 0.3 inches wide.
Hardy in sun or shade from zones 4 to 10 being deciduous in the colder parts of its range. It should be mowed to ground during early spring to clean out dead foliage before the new growth emerges. Plant 1.5 to 2 feet apart in spring for groundcover use. It tends to grow slowly during the first year when it should be kept moist and well fertilized; usually fully established and growing rapidly on the second year.

* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA


* photo taken on Aug 17 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on Aug 14 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 25 2015 @ Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

* photo taken on Jun 2 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 17 2017 in Annapolis, MD

* photos taken on Sep 6 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 29 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Silver Dragon' ( Variegate Creeping Liriope )
Foliage only up to 0.25 inches wide is vertically streaked silvery white.
Flowers are very pale lavender in color and are followed by small black berries.
Reaching up to 15 inches x 4 + feet unless spreading runners are continuously pulled.



* photo taken on May 21 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Aug 23 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC

* photos taken on Dec 28 2018 in Columbia, MD

MONDO GRASS
Closely related to Liriope but with a finer texture; many of the Mondos are excellent lawn substitutes for the shade. Being that Mondo's are evergreen; in many cases the Mondo lawn is better than a real lawn. In zones 5 & 6 if snowfall is sparse; branches from the old christmas makes an excellent protective mulch if loosly piled on top of the Mondo. All Mondo's grow best on fertile, moist, well drained soils. Fertilize in both spring then again in fall with a fertilizer specifically for promotion of root growth. Mondo Grass is tolerant of heat, drought ( in shade ), excessive wind, salt and even fire. They are rarely eaten by deer, insect pests and disease problems are rare.

Ophiopogon chingii
A low groundcover perennial, reaching up to 4 inches in height with fine-textured foliage. The pink flowers are followed by large violet berries during autumn.
Partial shade.

Ophiopogon clarkei
Rare in North America; this green leaf form can grow to 1 x 3 feet in size. Unfortunately less coldhardy than the others growing from zone 7 to 10.

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Oct 23 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, DC

Ophiopogon jaburens ( White Mondo Grass )
Forming a clump up to 3.3 x 6 feet in size; this is the largest of the Mondo's and is rarely seen in the U.S. It is native to seaside woodland in Korea and Japan.
The leaves are long and lush green to 36 x 0.8 inches in size though they can be striped yellow in variegated forms.
The flowers are white to 0.5 inches long in stalks up to 6 inches tall from August to September.
They are followed by blue fruits, up to 0.4 inches wide.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 and grows best in the shade. Easy to grow on any moist well drained soil; this Liriope is a "clumper' at first later becoming a very fast stoloniferous spreader.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

'Aureovariegatus'
Leaves are green and striped with yellow

'Caeruleus'
Flowers are violet to purplish-blue

'Crystal Falls'
Forms a moderate growing clump up to 3 x 2.6 feet in 3 years, eventually slightly wider.
The bold, broad foliage is glossy deep green. The leaves are up to 32 x 0.7 inches in size.
The bold, abundant, white flowers are borne during mid-summer.
They are followed by mid-blue berries, up to 0.6 inches long, during late autumn into winter.
Hardy north to zone 6, it has superior cold tolerance and excellent resistance to anthracnose disease.

* patent photos

'Vittatus'
The green foliage is narrowly margined and striped with white

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

Ophiopogon japonicus ( Mondo Grass )
The Mondo Grass is a native to Japan and is hardy zones 5 to 9 ( cannot survive below -29 F ). It is rapid growing and spreads fast by stolons forming a dense carpet to 1 x 3.5 feet. The evergreen leaves, up to 20 x 0.25 inches in size. They are best mowed short in March right before new growth begins.
The lilac-white flowers are borne on short racemes during mid to late summer.
They are followed by blue black berries, up to 0.3 inches wide.

* photos taken on Feb 2009 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC












* photos taken @ U.S. National Arboretum on August 2004



* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Feb 21 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Albus'
Almost identical except with pure white flowers.

'Comet'
Rapid growing to 9 inches in height with silvery foliage.

'Kyoto Dwarf'
Very dwarf and very compact, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 8 inches, with deep green foliage. Great for planting in walkways and pathways.

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on Jan 2011 @ Deerfield Beech Arboretum, Florida

'Nanum' ( Dwarf Mondo Grass )
A moderately fast growing, dwarf form, reaching up to 6 inches x 1 foot in size, with very dark green foliage. Looks like turf. Great as a groundcover in shady moist soil, it is often used between stepping stones.

* photos taken on Feb 2009 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


* photo taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photo taken on October 15 2010 @ Crownsville, MD

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken during Sep 2018 in Columbia, MD

'Pam Harper'
A very attractive, groundcover perennial, reaching up to 9 inches, with golden-yellow variegated foliage.

'Silver Mist'
Reaches a maximum size of 11 inches x 1.5 feet with showy, narrow, sparkling white and green foliage. Flowers tiny and insignificent. Spreads thru rhizomes

* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour

* photo taken on Aug 25 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Nov 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 3 2017 in Columbia, MD

'White Dragon'
Foliage to 12 inches long is widely striped with white with some leaves showing little green at all.

Ophiopogon planiscapus
A slow growing, clumping perennial, reaching up to 20 x 24 inches in size, that is native to Japan.
The deep green leaves can be up to 20 x 0.2 inches in size.
The white to purplish pink flowers appear early to mid summer.
They are followed by bright blue berries, up to 0.3 inches wide.
Hardy north to zone 6.

'Black Beard' ( Large Black Mondo Grass )
Similar to 'Ebony Knight' but fast growing and larger, reaching up to 2 x 2 feet in 3 years, eventually wider.
The leaves are up to 16 x 0.3 inches in size.

* photos taken on Aug 14 2024 @ Coventry Gardens, Windsor, ON

'Ebony Knight' ( Black Mondo Grass )
Reaching up to 1 x 3.5 feet in size; the Black Mondo is not a fast spreader reaching only up to 2 feet wide in 5 years on the best of sites.
It spreads by thick tuberous stolons to form loose patches.
the Black Mondo has foliage up to 9 to 14 x 0.3 inches ( reports of 20 x 0.3 inches is something I never seen ) that is greenish at first in spring quickly turning to glossy purplish-black. The flowers are pinkish lavender in clusters up to 6 inches tall. Contrasts well with white stone as well as light colored plants especially dwarf golden Hostas, Golden Moneywort, Japanese Painted Fern and Lamiums.
Grows in sun or shade and tolerates temperatures as low as -20 F. In areas of heavy snowfall protecting the roots; this plant may be grown as far north as zone 3.
Can be grown from seed; most of the seedlings will come true with blackish-purple leaves.


* photo taken on Feb 2009 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos from some of my installs




* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on July 10 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

'Leucanthus'
flowers are pure white.