Liriope grass ID

5 years ago

I have Liriope planted near my house, recently I trimmed some near border since it spreaded too close to that border - I just broke it down to roots with shovel and removed, then covered with mulch. Those trimmed plants I removed I wanted to plant the same way on back on house (mostly shady area), but then went online to read about it and saw lot of horror stories about Liriope spicata type. Not sure what mine is, I had it in that spot for 15 years and while it spreads some, it never went to another side of border, if I see it tries - I just pull it, and I usually spray another side with roundup if something tries to grow there, rest of yard gets mowed regularly. But I still like to know what type it is before I plant it in other places. Berries are black, dont see any blue shade on it, widest leaf I can measure at this time of year is 3/8, I trimmed them on pic after winter, but one on last pic not trimmed yet. This one was transplanted to dif spot year ago so it still compact size and not been spreading yet.

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Comments (7)

Christopher CNC
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Looks more like Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon japonicus. Where are you located? That matters for plant ID.
starlinka
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Im in NC, I got it from nursery about 14-15 years ago. Since it was long time ago, I dont remember what name was.
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Christopher CNC
5 years ago
What part of NC? Mondo Grass needs zone 7 or higher.
starlinka
Original Author
5 years ago
Eastern NC, about 50 miles east from Raleigh, according to this map it should be 8 - (yellow part) https://gilmour.com/north-carolina-planting-zones
starlinka
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I googled pictures - looks like mondo grass have blue berries, but my grass have black.
Christopher CNC
5 years ago
I changed my mind despite your zone 8. I did some googling too. Probably the Liriope spicata. Maybe someone else will come along and agree - or not. You've had if for 15 years now, seen how it spreads and been fine with it. Both the Mondo and L. spicata wants to be a groundcover.

The quality of the invasion can vary greatly with site conditions, time and maintenance habits.
starlinka
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I never thought it spreads badly, actually stays in that area without me doing anything special. I did spread from little plants I bought to around 4 sq ft area, but usually all I do about maintenance - is trimming in spring time to remove old leaves. This is the first time I pruned it near border, I never did it before in all those years. I read that border for it should go like 10"+ deep in ground, but that little border I have maybe just 2-3" deep. Not sure if roundup or lawn moving helps, but those things I do regardless if it there or not.

People on google telling horror stories how they have hard time containing it, also berries should be dark blue, not black, and leaves 1/4 wide - this why I wonder what type I have, and whatever it will behave more aggressive in different spot. To me it looks like cross between two :)