Liriope is a Great Lawn Substitute

Liriope, sometimes called monkey grass or lily turf, is a grass-like plant that grows under many conditions and makes a great substitute for lawns.

Ground covers require less work than lawns.

Grass lawns are expensive to grow and maintain. Mowing, fertilizing, spraying, and watering grass is energy intensive and damaging to the environment. Liriope is one of a number of attractive alternatives that require no chemicals, little watering, and hardly any maintenance.

Liriope is best used in areas where grass grows poorly or in areas that are difficult to mow or water. Liriope will not replace grass where there is heavy foot traffic. There it is better to install a pathway or stepping stones.

Growing about a foot tall, liriope has long grass like leaves though it is actually a relative of the lily. One clear difference between liriope and any grass are the flowers that grow from the clumps in mid summer. Most types have purple flowers but white flowering varieties are available. Dark blue berries develop on the plants after flowering. Some varieties have leaves with yellow or cream colored stripes.

Liriope will grow under nearly any condition.

Liriope will grow in any soil and in either sun or shade. Light shade is the ideal condition for best growth. Clumps become dense enough to discourage weeds. Liriope will gradually invade lawns and flower beds. It spreads through runners below ground, growing outward as much as one foot a year.

Its tendency to spread and make new clumps make liriope easy to dig up and start in new areas or share with friends. Liriope is available from garden centers in the spring in four inch pots or larger. The new plants should be set out a foot apart to allow growth.

Liriope requires little maintenance. A light mowing or trimming in spring will remove any winter damage. Liriope is a reliable perennial in USDA hardiness zones from six to eleven, meaning the roots will survive down to about zero degrees Fahrenheit even when the foliage turns brown. It becomes dormant but stays green through milder winters and warmer regions.

Watering is useful during long droughts but is seldom necessary. Fertilizing a couple of times a year will keep liriope growing to its maximum potential, but it will look almost as attractive without any. Restraining the growth of liriope is a more of a concern. Mowing will slow down its growth. Pulling out clumps in unwanted spots is fairly easy since the roots are shallow. Liriope can stand occasional light foot traffic but will die out if stepped on regularly.

Pests and diseases are seldom a problem.

Few pests bother liriope though slugs can be a problem. Snail bait is an effective solution as well as trapping them in small containers of beer set in the ground overnight. The slugs will fall in and drown.

The scientific name is Liriope muscari. A similar plant is mondo grass, Ophiopogon japonicas. It has finer leaf blades and light purple flowers. Both are natives of Japan, Korea, and China.