Monkey Grass
COMMON NAMES: Monkey grass, Lilyturf
BOTANICAL NAME: Liriope muscari
PRONUNCIATION: li-RYE-oh-pee mus-KAH-ree
TYPE: Evergreen groundcover – Sun or shade
HEIGHT: 9 – 15″
SPACING: 12″
HABIT: Grasslike clumps that spread by underground stems to form solid mass planting. Has primarily one flush of growth in the spring. Blue flowers on stalks in early summer.
CULTURE: Easy to grow in well-prepared beds that drain well. Does best in shade or partial shade. Mow or clip down to 3″ in late winter just before the new spring growth. Easy to divide and transplant anytime.
USES: Low border or groundcover. Good for texture change.
PROBLEMS: Snails and slugs sometimes. Usually not a big problem.
NOTES: Variegated form exits called Silvery Sunproof. My favorites are the green forms, Big Blue and Majestic. The giant form, Liriope gigantea, is also good. Native to China and Japan.