Border grasses are a great way to make landscapes more interesting to look at and clear them out. Liriope grass, which blooms in bright purple in the summer, is a very attractive choice. Liriope is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for border plant with lush leaves and bright flowers.
What is Liriope?
Liriope is a genus of low-growing grass-like perennials perfect for edging, borders and groundcovers. There are around 50 species with Liriope muscari and Liriope spicata being the most popular. Sometimes called monkey grass or lilyturf, liriope is native to East and Southeast Asia.
This clump-forming grass has arching green strappy leaves. From late summer into fall liriope produces spikes of light lavender to deep purple flowers rising 6-12 inches above the foliage depending on variety. Plants spread by underground rhizomes forming wide clumps 12-18 inches tall and wide.
It does well in zones 4–10 and can handle full sun to part shade in most well-drained soils. When first planted, it needs to be watered often, but once it’s established, it can handle drought quite well. In warm places, it stays green all year, but in cold places, it dies back.
Why Grow Liriope?
There are many great reasons to consider liriope
- Adds color with green foliage and purple blooms
- Spreads to form a weed-suppressing mat
- Stays compact at 12-18 inches tall
- Tolerates heat, humidity, drought, salt and poor soil
- Needs minimal care and maintenance
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Provides erosion control on slopes
- Good for borders, walkways and edging
With beauty and versatility, liriope is one of the most popular border grasses. Its graceful flowers, lush appeal and easy care nature make it a landscaping star.
Best Purple Flowering Varieties
Many liriope cultivars offer purple blooms. Here are some top options:
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Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’ – Deep purple flowers with dark green, wide leaves. Grows 12-18 inches tall.
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Lavender-purple flowers grow on wide, arching green leaves of the Liriope muscari “Big Blue.” Reaches 1-2 feet tall.
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Liriope spicata ‘Silver Dragon’ – Lavender spikes on green and cream striped thin leaves. Grows to 12 inches.
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Liriope muscari ‘Christmas Tree’ – Pale purple flowers on wide leaves. Compact at 9-12 inches.
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Liriope muscari ‘John Burch’ has lavender flowers on leaves that are striped with green and yellow. Grows 12 inches tall.
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Liriope muscari ‘Majestic’ – Very large lilac-purple blooms on substantial dark green foliage. Reaches 18 inches tall.
No matter which liriope you choose, you’ll get a tough spreading grass with graceful purple flower spikes in late summer through fall. It’s a star for borders, walkways and mass plantings.
How to Grow Liriope
Growing liriope is very easy. It thrives with minimal care by following these tips:
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Plant in spring or fall, spacing clumps 12 inches apart.
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Choose a site with full sun to part shade and well-drained soil.
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Keep soil moist the first season, then water occasionally during droughts.
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Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring to boost growth.
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Cut back old foliage to the ground in late winter before new growth emerges.
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Divide congested clumps every 3-4 years in early spring if needed.
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Remove spent bloom spikes after flowering ends.
That’s all there is to growing this beautiful and low maintenance purple flowering border grass!
Designing With Liriope
Liriope serves many functions in landscape design. Its neat form spreads nicely to create borders and curves:
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Define edges along a sidewalk, patio or driveway
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Line a front walkway or path to the door
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Edge a flowerbed or planting area
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Fill in along a fence or property line
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Create sweeps and curves for visual interest
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Mass as a colorful groundcover
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Intersperse within beds for texture
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Accent rock gardens, walls or other hardscaping
With its fine texture and charming blooms, liriope makes a statement in beds and borders. It provides structure while softening edges and boundaries, bringing life to landscapes year-round.
For stunning purple flowers and graceful good looks, liriope is a top choice for border grasses. This low care perennial thrives in full sun to part shade and practically any soil. Liriope spreads nicely, making it ideal for edging walkways, patios and plantings. With many fine varieties, liriope offers beauty, versatility and easy care to gardens. Give this lovely purple flowering grass a try in your landscape beds and borders!
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Start by digging holes twice the width of the root ball and not quite as deep as the root ball is tall. Place your lilyturf plants evenly in each hole. The top of each root ball should be slightly higher than the soil line. Next, backfill with the soil you originally removed. Water deeply until the soil is completely saturated. Water daily for the first week, 2 to 3 times weekly for the first month, and once weekly until your plants are established. Root establishment generally takes 2 to 3 months.
How to Care for Liriope
Lilyturf is a clumping perennial grass like plant that requires minimal care once established. It grows well in full sun to part shade and is adaptable to any well-drained soil. Water deeply about twice weekly when newly planted to help the roots grow properly. After establishment this plant is drought tolerant. Keep your plants watered during extreme heat in the first summer. Fertilize with a slow release fertilizer in spring for optimal growth.
Liriope (Lily Turf, Monkeygrass): Big Blue, Variegated, and Royal Purple
FAQ
What kind of grass has purple flowers?
Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’, also known as Money Grass, this ornamental grass features spikes of deep purple flowers that rise above the arching, dark green, grass-like foliage followed by black berries.
Does Royal Purple Liriope spread?
Clumps slowly expand by short stolons, but do not spread aggressively like Liriope spicata.
What is an invasive ground cover with purple flowers?
But you should not plant bugleweed anywhere near your lawn or garden beds. Identification: Grows from ground-hugging rosettes, some varieties have purple or maroon leaves. It has purple flowers in the spring.
What is the grass alternative with purple flowers?
Creeping lilyturf (Liriope spicata) Creeping lilyturf adds a sense of drama to the outdoors with its bold ornamental grass-like foliage and deep purple flower spikes. Even though this ground cover shrub stays green all year, its lightly striped leaves will turn a bright yellow in the winter.
What flowers go with a purple border?
And it’s not just purple flowers – the foliage of many plants can have a purple hue, adding depth and drama to a garden border. Lavender, lilac and wisteria are purple flowers we might expect to see, but there are many more shades that can grace flower beds and complement your garden ideas.
What is purple moor grass?
It is also popularly known as “ purple moor-grass. ” This species of grass thrives in acidic soils, being found in both lowland and mountainous areas. It is often found near swamps or in open landscapes. Purple Moor-grass usually grows in tufts of many stems that are close together. It can get as tall as 35 inches (90 cm).
Is purple a good color for a garden?
When it comes to beds and borders, purple is a favorite color, and a lot of people ask garden designer Nikki Hollier for ideas. Her company, Border in a Box, sells ready-made planting plans.
Is purple fountain grass invasive?
Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) An attractive cultivar of the native weed species called fountain grass, this colorful ornamental grass is completely non-invasive. Usually a perennial, it can be grown as an annual grass in cold northern areas.
What kind of grass grows best in a garden?
Ornamental grasses are perfect plants for sunny borders. Dwarf fountain grass is a clumping, warm-season grass that grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It has fine green foliage that sways in the gentlest breeze and produces pink “foxtail” blooms in late summer and early fall. USDA zones 5 to 9. 7. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
How do you care for purple moor grass?
3. Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea) Clump-forming plants with long slender blades that provide a wispy appearance, it grows well in moist, fertile soils. Needs weekly watering, and more frequently during hot summers. It helps during the flowering season if the plant is protected from the hot afternoon sun. 4.