Liriope spicata

The Liriope spicata is a perennial ground cover plant, a relative of Liriope muscari, with a more upright and shorter habit. It forms clumps of evergreen linear leaves, shiny green, and produces pretty pale mauve bell-shaped flowers, carried on short spikes from August to October. It spreads strongly through stolons, eventually forming a dense carpet that can even become invasive under ideal conditions. Hardy, it is perfect for colonizing shaded areas or for covering the ground between the roots of trees and bushes. Easy to grow in any shady exposure, in well-drained soil, even limestone and dry, once established.

The Liriope spicata or Japanese lawn belongs to the Liliaceae family (Asparagaceae). It is a herbaceous perennial native to temperate Southeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam). Similar to Liriope muscari, this more compact species is also considered more spreading, and capable of colonizing the soil more effectively and quickly, sometimes becoming a little invasive where it likes it, i.e. in shade and in cool, not too wet soil. It tolerates limestone and drought well, but prefers acidic and moist soils.

This herbaceous perennial with rhizomes, is capable of producing stolons, i.e. creeping aerial stems that root upon contact with the ground, allowing it to spread laterally. It forms a dense cluster of leaves, approximately 25 cm (10in) in height and 40 cm (16in) in width at minimum. Its growth rate is moderate. Its leaves usually persist throughout the winter, except in the coldest regions where they may dry out and turn brown; in this case, they will need to be mown in spring when vegetation starts again. The leaves are ribbon-like, lanceolate, shiny green, and can measure about 40 cm (16in) in length and 1 cm (0in) in width, depending on the growing conditions. Flowering occurs from August to October, earlier or later depending on the climate, on thin and very short floral spikes, somewhat concealed within the foliage, at the heart of leaf clumps. It takes the form of inflorescences with small spikes adorned with tiny pale mauve bell-shaped flowers. The nectar-rich flowering is visited by pollinating insects and is often followed by the formation of glossy, blackish fruits.

The Liriope spicata is a luminous, elegant, accommodating, versatile, and very useful plant in a garden, especially in slightly shady areas. Its great resistance to cold, drought, and shade allows it to be used in many situations: in undergrowth, at the base of trees or hedges, as a border to highlight the design of a path, in rock gardens, or in Japanese-style gardens. It is interesting to combine it with other very robust undergrowth plants, such as lily of the valley, Naples cyclamen, or Solomon's seals. It is also a plant that thrives well in a pot, on a window sill, or a balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive watering neglect and thrive in gardens without gardeners or weekend gardens.