Practical
Plants

Liriope muscari

Lilyturf

a perennial evergreen member of the Liriope genus in the family Convallariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Liriope
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
slow
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.45 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - cooked[2][3]. Candied and used medicinally[11]. The roots sometimes have a fleshy, tuberous part near their tip[9].

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is antiinflammatory, antiallergic, aphrodisiac, pectoral and stimulant[11][10]. It is used as a tonic in Korea to increase stamina and also as an expectorant[10].

Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A good drought tolerant evergreen ground cover plant[6][7]. Rather slow to spread though, needing weeding for the first year or two[5]. Plants should be spaced about 30cm apart each way[7].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Forests, bamboo forests, scrub, shady and moist places in ravines and on slopes at elevations of 100 - 1400 (occasionally to 2000) metres[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing it in a cold frame or greenhouse as soon as the seed is ripe if possible, if not then sowing the stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Very easy, the larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sandy soil[1]. Succeeds in full sun so long as the soil does not dry out in the summer, otherwise it should be grown in partial shade in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[6]. Requires a sunny position[7]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[4][6], they succeed in dry shade[4]. Hardy to at least -15°c[6]. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[6]. Slow to settle down after being planted but then grows away well[4]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[8]. There is a lot of confusion between this species and L. graminifolia, most of the plants being grown as L. graminifolia actually being this species[6]. Apart from its use as a ground cover plant, all the entries on this plant's uses actually belong to L. graminifolia but, because of the confusion, it is quite possible that they also apply to this species[K]. This species has thick dark tubers whilst L. graminifolia is rhizomatous[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  7. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  9. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2

  10. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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