Liriope muscari Evergreen Giant

The Liriope muscari 'Evergreen Giant', as its name suggests, stands out as a giant among these robust perennial ground cover plants with evergreen foliage.  It is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial plant that forms a beautiful upright clump of long leaves resembling those of grasses, which will thicken and beautify over time. This variety blooms in summer, in upright clusters taller than in other liriopes, adorned with small blue-violet bells. Hardy and highly resistant, it will elegantly fill the base of trees, borders, pots, and can even replace the lawn in less frequented areas of the garden, including in dry shade.  

The 'Evergreen Giant' Liriope is a beautiful selection of Liriope muscari, a plant belonging to the family Asparagaceae (Liliaceae). Its ancestor is native to temperate Southeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam). This herbaceous perennial with short and fibrous rhizomes forms dense clumps, so it is not invasive, and its stems are almost nonexistent. It forms a dense cluster of leaves, at least 60 cm (24in) in all directions (sometimes 80 cm (32in), slowly expanding to form large dark patches throughout the year. Its growth is quite slow. Its leaves are ribbon-like, lanceolate, and can measure about 80 cm (32in) to 1 m (3ft) long and 1 to 2 cm (0 to 1in) wide, depending on the growing conditions. They are glossy and very dark green. Flowering occurs in July-August, earlier or later depending on the climate, on purple flower spikes. It takes the form of inflorescences in spikes that can reach 80 cm (32in) to 90 cm (35in) in height, slightly taller than the foliage, where numerous small soft blue-violet bells are tightly packed, harmonizing well with the dark foliage. The nectar-rich flowering attracts butterflies, and is followed by the formation of black fruits.

It is an elegant, accommodating, versatile, and very useful plant in a garden. Its great resistance to cold, drought, and shade allows it to be used in many situations: in light woodland, at the base of trees, as a border to highlight the design of a pathway, in a rockery with heathers for example, or in Japanese-style gardens. Its combination with botanical daylilies (Hemerocallis citrina or 'Fulva Flore Pleno') is interesting in a large border exposed to morning sun. In cool soil, this tall Liriope will blend well with Thalictrums or shrubby fuchsias for example. It is also a plant that grows very well in a large pot, on a terrace or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive watering neglect and thrive in gardens without gardeners or weekend gardens.