Landscape with Liriopes
By Nathan Dutschke
Liriope’s are widely used in landscaping and one of the most popular Liriope’s in New Zealand is commonly known as Lilyturf or Liriope muscari. In general Liriopes grow best in partial shade and in moist well drained soils New Zealand wide. However they are quite tough and can grow in full sun, tolerate heavy frosts and periods of drought. Liriope’s are usually grown for their very good shade tolerance, beautiful bell shaped flowers in autumn and their evergreen foliage. Below I have noted some of the better performing Liriope’s on the market today.
Amethyst Liriope muscari ‘LIRTP’ PBR – Amethyst is a semi compact dark green foliage form with characteristic deep purple flowers which sit high above the foliage. Amethyst will grow on average to 40cm high by 40cm in width. Amethyst is very well suited to mass plantings as a clumping ground cover, also good for rockeries and shaded gardens.
Liriope muscari Royal Purple - Royal Purple grows to a height of 40cm and produces showy dark purple bell shaped flowers from early summer until autumn. This is a hardy Liriope and a good all rounder, suitable for landscape projects and maintained gardens. Trim older foliage as required
Liriope muscari Samantha - Samantha is a beautiful true pink flowering Liriope. Samantha grows to a height of 45cm and flowers from early summer until autumn. Samantha is best suited for use in rockeries and borders and can be grown well in a sunny position or in part to moderately heavy shade. This is a very hardy pink flowering Liriope with a clumping habit.
Isabella Liriope muscari ‘LIRF PBR - Compared to standard Liriope muscari, Isabella really stands out due to its very fine foliage and much denser, compact habit. Isabella is versatile, stylish, low maintenance and has the ability to be used as a functional ground cover. The beauty of Isabella compared to other Liriope’s is that it does have a spreading habit with underground rhizomes, making it ideal for use as a ground cover or as a low maintenance lawn alternative for sun or shade. Mass planted as a lawn alternative 15-30cm apart Isabella will spread out and cover the ground within 1 year of growth out competing weeds. As a lawn alternative Isabella can be mown once a year with a lawn mower on its highest setting in late winter cutting the plants back to the base allowing them to reshoot again in early spring. This can be done each year at the same time. Isabella can grow up to 40cm high and has a distinctive display of showy pink flowers through the top of the foliage in early autumn.
If you need Liriope’s with low watering needs, good cold tolerance and great performance with clean growing foliage check these out for yourself.
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Amethyst
Royal Purple
Isabella