Lilyturf and Look-Alikes

by Lydia Holley February 3, 2025

Lilyturf (Liriope muscari) is blooming now. It makes a beautiful evergreen edging plant for garden beds, and its purple blooms bring a shot of color when its flower stalks rise over its skirt of foliage. Native to Asia, Lilyturf grows in clumps, and although it looks like a grass, it is a member of the asparagus family.

It prefers partial shade. Use it under trees, in containers, or as a ground cover, although it is not generally used as a lawn replacement since it can not take foot traffic.

There are several forms of edging plants which look like Lilyturf. This makes it confusing for the gardener. However, checking the latin name can give you some clues as to these plants’ growing habits.

For instance, monkeygrass (Liriope spicata), does not grow in clumps but spreads through rhizomes and will form a dense planting unless confined by a barrier.

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) also spreads by runners. Its leaves are thinner than Lilyturf. Dwarf cultivars of mondo grass grow slowly, so they may be a better choice for smaller areas than the regular variety.

‘Big Blue’ is a popular cultivar of Lilyturf which grows up to two feet tall. ‘Variegata’ has creamy-yellow striped leaves that brighten a shady area. ‘Silver Dragon’ has white stripes and is a form of Liriope spicata or monkeygrass. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus) has dark leaves and grows slowly. Aztex grass is also a form of mondo grass (Ophiopogon intermedius) with bright white variegated leaves and white flowers.

In my garden, I use variegated lilyturf as an edging, monkeygrass as a spreading groundcover in large areas, black mondo grass in pots as an accent against lighter plantings, and aztec grass in medium-sized areas where I want a bright accent.

As you can see, each plant has its own unique attributes, and used correctly, each can be a beautiful addition to your garden. Since they all look similar, and their common names are often interchanged, checking the latin name will give you clues to their growing habits.

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