At some point in your life, you may have come across Liriope and wondered, is Liriope a grass? Known for its clumps of strappy green leaves, it’s an easy mistake to make. However, Liriope is not a grass. Below, I’ll explain why it’s often confused with grasses, where it actually belongs in the plant world, and we’ll discuss some of the best options available in NZ.
Amethyst™ Liriope muscari. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/amethyst-liriope-muscari/
Just Right™ Liriope muscari. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/just-right-liriope/
What is Liriope?
Liriope, also commonly referred to as “lilyturf,” is a hardy, grass-like perennial famously used in garden borders, mass plantings, and ground cover. Originally hailing from East and Southeast Asia, Liriope species feature tufts of long, slender leaves and seasonal flowers in shades of lavender, white, or violet. Despite its grass-like look, Liriope is not part of the Poaceae family, which is home to true grasses.
Instead, Liriope belongs to the Asparagaceae family. This places it in a group of plants closely related to Asparagus and Agave, rather than to traditional grasses. Its ability to mimic the appearance of grasses, however, is one of the reasons it’s often chosen for ornamental purposes.
One way to tell if a plant is a true grass is to look for stalks or runners with knobby knees, called nodes. They’ll also have leaves that are sheathed around the stalks.
Amethyst™ Liriope muscari. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/amethyst-liriope-muscari/
Just Right™ Liriope muscari. http://ozbreed.co.nz/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/just-right-liriope/
How is Liriope Different from Grass?
Although Liriope shares some physical similarities with grasses, its characteristics differ in a few key ways.
- Family Group: True grasses belong to the Poaceae family. Liriope, on the other hand, fits into the Asparagaceae family, alongside plants with unexpected relatives like asparagus.
- Flowers and Berries: Liriope produces spikes of small, bell-shaped flowers that are distinctly different from the spikelets of grasses. Some varieties even develop decorative, dark berries after flowering. Meanwhile, grasses have plumes of flowers without petals or sepals that develop into grains.
- Growth Style: While Liriope grows in clumping patterns much like ornamental grasses, its foliage tends to be denser, thicker, and slightly more upright. Its rhizomous stems are hidden beneath the foliage. Grass, on the other hand, has stems that have knobby nodes and leaf sheaths.
A true grass has knobby knee nodes and leaf sheaths like this. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Digitaria_eriantha_node3_NWS_-_Flickr_-_Macleay_Grass_Man.jpg
Why is Liriope Mistaken for Grass?
The confusion around whether Liriope is a grass arises mainly from its appearance. With its long, slender leaves and tufted growth habit, it resembles certain ornamental grasses to the untrained eye.
However, its decorative flowers and berries, as well as its rhizomes hidden beneath strappy foliage set it apart from any true grass variety, which has nobby nodes and sheathed leafs.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, Liriope may look like a grass, but it comes from an entirely different plant family. Belonging to the Asparagaceae family, Liriope is ideal for ground cover, borders, or to create contrast with other plants. The next time you hear someone ask is Liriope a grass? you can confidently tell them – no, it’s not a grass, it’s actually closely related to asparagus!