Lily Turf (Liriope muscari 'Okina') is a tuberous-rooted, grass-like perennial that thrives in zones 5, 10, reaching 12, 18 inches tall. Its clumps of glossy, dark green, strap-like leaves stay evergreen in warm climates but decline in cold winters. In late summer through October, erect spikes of violet-purple flowers rise above the foliage, followed by striking blackish berries that often persist well into fall. This tufted spreader is notably restrained compared to its relative Liriope spicata, expanding slowly via short stolons rather than aggressively colonizing space.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-10
18in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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Violet-purple flower spikes with tiered whorls emerge in late summer and give way to showy blackish berries that linger into fall. The plant handles heat, humidity, and drought with equal grace, thriving in full sun to partial shade and tolerating everything from average soils to difficult urban conditions. Its controlled, tufted growth habit makes it far less aggressive than other lilyturf species, spreading only modestly by short stolons while maintaining a neat, clump-forming silhouette.
Lily Turf excels as a ground cover, slowly weaving dense swaths of color through borders and naturalized plantings. Its low-maintenance nature and moderate spread make it suited for edging, slope stabilization, and erosion control where a restrained spreader outperforms more aggressive alternatives.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Cut back declines foliage in early spring, particularly in cold-winter climates where tops brown considerably over winter. This encourages fresh, vigorous growth from the tuberous roots.
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