Liriope

Plant type: Perennial
Hardiness: USDA Zones 6 to 10

Popular low-maintenance, clumping groundcover. Has wide, dark green, grasslike foliage. Evergreen. Produces spiky, white or purple flowers in late summer. Flowers fade to black berries that persist through winter. Plant size ranges 12 to 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide.

How to use it: For best effect, plant in mass. Use in the front to the middle of a mixed perennial border, containers, edging, rock garden, woodland shade garden or along banks.

Culture: Prefers a moist, well-drained soil. Doesn't like to sit in wet, soggy soils. Plant in part sun to full shade; tolerates full sun. In zones 9 to 10, limit light exposure to four to six hours a day. Low-maintenance plant. However, plant will become ragged if left completely unattended. Cut back in late winter or early spring when new growth appears. For large plantings, use a lawn mower or string trimmer to cut back foliage. Primarily propagated through division. Divide every three to five years. No serious pests or diseases, but may have problems with slugs and snails.

Special notes: Related to mondo grass (Ophiopogon), but, according to Allan Armitage, is generally hardier and has wider leaves. Low maintenance. Drought tolerant. Heat tolerant. Salt tolerant.

Selected cultivars