Lily Turf, Creeping liriope, Creeping Lilyturf
Liriope spicata
Family: Convallariaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Lavender. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Rounded, Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.
Liriope spicata is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in leaf all year, in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Forests, grassy slopes, hillsides and moist places from near sea level to 1800 metres.
E. Asia - China.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
The following use is reported for L. graminifolia, but there is a lot of confusion between members of this genus (compare and ) and it is quite possible that the root of this species is also used. Root - cooked. Candied and used medicinally. The roots are usually with fusiform with a fleshy, tuberous part near the tip. Rich in mucilage, the root also contains about 1.6% protein, 0.5% fat, 80% carbohydrate and 2.3% ash.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The root is aphrodisiac, pectoral and stimulant.
Aphrodisiac: Increases the sexual appetite.
Pectoral: Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.
Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
Other
Rating: 2
A good drought tolerant evergreen ground cover plant. Plants should be spaced about 45cm apart each way, they can be invasive though. Plants have been grown indoors in pots in order to help remove toxins from the atmosphere. It is especially good at removing ammonia.
Ground cover: Ground Cover
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Container, Erosion control, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Seashore, Woodland garden. Prefers a sandy soil. 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. There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Invasive, Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Propagating it: 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.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 4-10
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Dry, moist