Liriope muscari Majestic

The Liriope 'Majestic' is a variety of Liriope muscari with a more upright habit and narrow leaves, more refined than other cultivars. It flowers for a long time in summer with upright spikes of purple colour. It is a vigorous and robust evergreen perennial that strongly resembles a grass. Indeed, it has a clump of slender dark green leaves that adorn shaded areas and woodlands with their shimmer all year round. This rhizomatous perennial is an ideal ground cover to fill the base of trees, the edges of flower beds and pathways, as well as pots. It thrives in well-drained soil, in sun, partial shade, and even dry shade.

The Liriope muscari 'Majestic' belongs to the family Liliaceae (Asparagaceae), just like its native ancestor from temperate Southeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam). This herbaceous perennial with short and fibrous rhizomes forms a dense clump of leaves, reaching 40 cm (16in) in height and 45 cm (18in) in width, slowly expanding to form lush carpets, attractive throughout the year. Its leaves are quite flexible, slightly trailing, ribbon-like, thin, and lanceolate. They are glossy and particularly dark green. Flowering occurs from July to October, depending on the climate, on beautifully purple floral spikes that rise above its foliage. It takes the form of inflorescences in tall spikes where numerous small round bells are tightly packed, resembling muscari flowers. The nectar-rich flowering, visited by butterflies, is followed by the formation of black fruits.

Liriope muscari is a discreet but 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 woodlands, at the base of trees, as a border to highlight the design of a pathway, in rock gardens alongside heathers, for example, or in Japanese-style gardens around the base of a Japanese maple. Combine this lovely variety with Heuchera Chantilly in moist soil, with small spring bulbs (snowdrops, muscari, botanical narcissus), or with lilies in a border or rock garden exposed to morning sun. It is also a plant that thrives very well in pots, on a window sill or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive forgetfulness in watering, thrive in gardens without gardeners or weekend gardens. Consider pairing it with other woodland species such as ferns, hostas, and geraniums.