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Liriope is also called Liriope and belongs to the genus of perennials belonging to the Liliaceae family, but according to some other sources the plant is classified as a member of the Asparagaceae family. The number of representatives of this genus is small. Its native habitat is in East Asia (China and Japan), settling in forests and mountains, as well as on plains in close proximity to water bodies.
The flower takes its name in honor of the nymph Liriope; due to the fact that the plant is very similar in external characteristics to the hyacinth Liriope, you can often hear it called “mouse hyacinth.” But in some nationalities this representative of the flora is called “peat lily” or “viper onion”.
The height of liriope does not exceed 20–65 cm, while it has no stem, and the roots are short and fleshy, with tuberous thickenings and formations in the form of stolons. That is, the root system is fibrous, and the rhizome itself is located very close to the soil surface.
The leaf blades are collected in a rosette, their outlines are narrow and drooping (twisting at the tops), which makes the leaves very similar to cereals. Their surface is hard, but the edge is smooth to the touch. In this case, a lush bush is formed, which, even without flowers, is of decorative value. The foliage color is bright green, sometimes there are whitish stripes on the surface (variegated variety). The leaf width does not exceed one and a half centimeters with a length of up to 35 cm.
The inflorescences have a spicate shape, they look like bunches of grapes. They collect small flowers with the outlines of bells. The opening diameter reaches 0.7 cm, the flowers are very reminiscent of the contours of lily of the valley flowers, even in their location. There are six petals in the flower, their outlines are oval. The color of the petals of the flowers is varied, including shades of white, violet, blue, lilac, and also light blue. Bright yellow stamens grow inside the bud, protruding from the corolla. The flowering process lasts from August to mid-autumn. The aroma of the flowers is practically not expressed.
After flowering, the fruit ripens in the form of a simple two-replacement capsule, inside of which there are small seeds of a dark purple hue with a rough surface; they reach 7 mm in diameter.
The plant looks great as a border crop, and liriope is also commonly planted in rock gardens and various flower beds. You can cultivate “mouse hyacinth” in pots when grown indoors. The plant is distinguished by increased drought and frost resistance properties. If you plant liriope in open ground, then as it grows, it forms rather dense clumps (low thickets) of spherical shape.
This representative of the flora is quite easy to grow and even a novice gardener can achieve its flowering, but you should still adhere to the rules below.
Growing liriope, planting and care at home
- When grown in the garden a location is selected with light and well-drained soil that has nutritional properties and weak acidity. Also, the “peat lily” does not tolerate stagnant water, so location in the lowlands is strictly prohibited, as well as a limestone substrate. The planting site should have bright but diffused illumination; flower beds can be formed in the shade of trees that create a slight shadow with their crown. However, there are varieties that can grow with equal success both in full shade and in a brightly lit place.
- General garden care for liriope. Every 2–3 years, clumps lose their decorative appeal, and it is recommended to replant them, as growth and flowering weaken. It will be necessary to regularly water in hot weather, loosen the soil and weed out weeds. But it is also important to remember that here too you should not flood the soil under the liriope, since it will cope better with dry conditions than with waterlogging of the soil. If the inflorescences wither, it is recommended to remove them. When grown in open ground conditions, it is necessary to fertilize complete mineral complexes in liquid form 3–4 times during the summer and autumn months. For the winter period, you should cover the “mouse hyacinth” with fallen leaves or spruce paws, but these measures will be needed only in the middle zone. In other areas, the plant will survive the winter months just fine without such shelter. In indoor conditions, the care rules are slightly different for the “peat lily”:
- Lighting and location. The plant prefers bright, but diffused light, with shading from direct sunlight. But full shade will be a problem during the active growing season (spring) and when the flowering process begins (summer and autumn months). It is better to place the pot with the plant on the window sills facing west and east. As a last resort, you can place liriope in light shade, as the “mouse hyacinth” easily tolerates it.
- Content temperature when growing “peat lilies” indoors, it should be moderate. In the summer, the thermometer readings should fluctuate in the range of 18–20 units. In hot weather, it is recommended to remove the flower from the windowsill or create good shade for it using curtains or light blinds. With the arrival of winter, the temperature should be reduced, creating a cool winter. In this case, the thermometer column should be at 10 degrees, but it is not recommended to lower the lower limit to 4 units. The plant is afraid of drafts.
- Air humidity When caring for liriope, it is not an important component, but some gardeners notice that when sprayed once every 5-7 days, “mouse hyacinth” looks much better. The water is taken soft and warm.
- Watering. To moisten the soil in a pot with liriope, use warm and soft water, as when spraying. It is defended for several days. Between waterings, the layer of soil on the surface should dry out a little. Complete drying of the substrate in the flowerpot is not advisable, but it is worse than flooding it. When heat indicators drop, there is a reduction in watering.
- Mouse hyacinth fertilizers. Use universal fertilizers for flowering plants. They should contain potassium and phosphorus. The drug should be diluted in water for irrigation and applied every 15–20 days. As soon as flowering stops, fertilizers are canceled.
- Replanting and selection of soil. Such an operation will be required at a young age annually, but over time, once every 3-4 years. The pot should be slightly larger than the old one. In the new flowerpot, holes are made in the bottom to drain excess water, and a layer of drainage is poured. The substrate can be used universally for flowering indoor plants.
Sequence of steps when propagating liriope
To get a new mouse hyacinth plant, it is recommended to divide overgrown clumps or sow seed material.
Seed propagation is used quite rarely, as it is more labor-intensive. Seeds collected last year are used for planting. They are sown in May. Before sowing, it is recommended to soak the seed material for a day in warm water, and then place the cut in the ground. In a garden or pot (filled with peat-sand substrate), shallow furrows are prepared in the soil, and the seeds are distributed in them at a distance of 5–10 cm from each other. As soon as the seedlings grow and become stronger, they are picked, leaving only the strongest specimens. In this case, the distance between young liriope should be 30–40 cm.
When dividing peat lily bushes, the time is selected in May, combining this process with replanting. In this case, it is recommended to first water the bushes thoroughly and then carefully dig them out of the substrate. Since the root system is located superficially, the plant is easily removed from the soil. When dividing, it should be done in such a way that each division has a part of the rhizome and 8–10 leaf blades. The holes in the flowerbed are prepared in advance, as well as pots with soil (if the cultivation is indoors). It is not recommended to bury parts of the liriope. When planting, the distance between plant parts is maintained at 35–40 cm.
After planting, it is recommended to water the young bushes regularly when the soil dries out, to create light shading until the plants take root. You can apply fertilizer several times for general strengthening. Within two months the regularity will be 1-2 times a week.
Pests and diseases in the process of caring for liriope
Among the pests that plague the “mouse hyacinth” are spider mites, aphids and scale insects. When these harmful insects appear, it is recommended to treat with insecticidal preparations.
The following troubles also occur when growing liriope:
- when the soil is depleted of nutrients, the growth of the “peat lily” is quite rare, flowering is poor;
- if the earthen lump in the pot often dries out, this will lead to the tips of the foliage drying out, first acquiring a sandy color, and then brown;
- if the leaf plates have lost their rigidity and the root system has begun to rot, then the reason for this was the flooding of the substrate, there are no drainage holes in the pot, and the drainage quality is poor;
- If direct sunlight hits the foliage at midday, it will soon dry out and begin to die, and the plant will gradually die.
Liriope spica is also called “Mai-men-dong” and the stem of this plant is widely used by healers in China. There is an opinion that products based on it contribute to the overall strengthening of the body and have diuretic and antifever properties. It is also used to cure tuberculosis, bronchitis and bronchial asthma.
Liriope species
Liriope muscari is the most common variety and comes in many forms and varieties. The plant is distinguished by a vertical rhizome located deep in the soil, with formations in the form of cones. The leaf blades are hard, the general background is dark green, but sometimes there is a longitudinal yellow stripe. The height of the overgrown clumps does not exceed 70 cm, but this directly depends on the liriope variety. The leaves are equal to or slightly larger than the flowering stem. Its parameters vary between 25–70 cm. The number of inflorescences is multiple (up to a dozen or more whorls) and they are formed from densely arranged flowers of white or light purple color. The number of buds in each whorl is 4–7 units. When opened, their diameter is 0.6–0.8 cm. The length of the peduncle reaches 0.4–0.5 cm. The flowering process occurs in September-October. When the fruits ripen, a capsule is formed, almost spherical in shape, reaching 0.8 cm in diameter.
Territories of natural growth occur in the lands of China and Japan, where a subtropical or temperate climate prevails. The variety is the base for the following bred varieties:
- Variegata (variegated) species- yellow stripes are clearly visible along the edges of the leaf plates.
- Big Blue- the flower petals of this variety have a lavender tint, the plant tolerates bright sun well.
- Christmas Tree- this garden form has leaf blades that are larger in width than the basic type and flowers of a bluish or lavender-blue hue; it feels comfortable in shading.
- Evergreen Giant It is frost-resistant, the height of the shoots is greater than that of the original variation, and the flower petals are snow-white.
- John Burch There is a yellow stripe along the edge of the dark green leaf blades, the color of the flowers in the inflorescences is lavender-blue, and tolerates both shade and bright insolation.
- Gold banded, the clump formed by this cultivar is higher, the leaves are decorated with a golden-yellow stripe, the flowers amaze the eye with a bright blue-violet color, and are collected in racemose inflorescences. The leaf width is greater than that of the similar John Burch variety, and they also have a greater bend. The recommended growing location is sunny or with slight shade.
- Majestic It shows its growth well in the shade, has shorter leaf blades, but the peduncles have height parameters that exceed the basic species.
- Monroe White can only grow in dense shade, the leaves are dark green in color, the flower petals are white.
- Royal Purple It forms large clumps with its shoots, which are covered with racemose inflorescences of purple or dark purple color. Tolerates both shade and bright sun.
- Exiliflora (fine-flowered) has delicate and loose racemose inflorescences.
Under natural growing conditions, the variety can be found in China, Japan, Vietnam and South Korea.
Liriope platyphylla can be found under the name Ophiopogon spicatus. The native habitat is in the subtropical and temperate zones of the Korean Peninsula, and also includes the territories of China and Japan. The root system is fibrous with cone-shaped formations. Located very close to the surface. The plant can reach a height of 40 cm. It has leaf blades decorated with stripes and a sinuous shape; they are often longer than the flowering stems. The height of the peduncle varies in the range of 10–30 cm; the whorled inflorescence consists of 5–9 flower formations, each bearing 2–4 buds. The length of the pedicels is 0.2–0.3 cm. When opened, the flower can measure 0.4–0.6 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is dark blue. The ripening fruits are spherical in shape, about 0.6 cm in diameter.
There is also the Silver Dragon variety, which has a silvery tint of foliage and lavender-blue inflorescences. The garden crop Liriope graminifolia Baker is also known to flower growers, characterized by longer pedicels, but the diameter of the flowers of the plant is smaller.
What liriope looks like, see the video below:
Characteristics of Liriope
Liriope, or Liriope, is a genus of perennial plants belonging to the Liliaceae family. The habitat of wild representatives of this small genus is East Asia, where Liriope can be found in forests, mountains, plains and near water bodies. The plant got its name in honor of the nymph Liriope, and due to its external resemblance to hyacinth, Liriope is often called mouse hyacinth. In some dialects there are also names such as peat lily and viper onion.
Liriope is distinguished by its short stature (20-65 cm), the absence of a stem, short and fleshy roots with tuberous thickenings and stolon-like formations, narrow and drooping leaves collected in rosettes, like those of cereals, forming a lush bush, and spike-shaped inflorescences, similar to bunches of grapes, with small bell-shaped flowers (about 0.7 cm in diameter), reminiscent of lily of the valley flowers. The color of the flowers can be white, violet, blue, lilac or light blue. Flowering is usually observed from August to October. The fruit is in the form of a capsule with dark purple seeds, about 7 mm in diameter.
According to various sources, the genus Liriope has from 4 to 8 species. The following plants are common in cultivation:
Liriope muscari - has a vertical rhizome, hard dark green leaves 30 cm high and white, pink, lilac or blue inflorescences. This species includes many forms and cultivars: Liriope muscari var. exiliflora (with loose inflorescences), Liriope muscari var. variegata (with striped leaves and soft purple inflorescences), "Christmas Tree" (with wider leaves and blue flowers), "Evergreen Giant" (with soft white inflorescences), "Gold-banded" (with a golden border on the leaves and blue flowers), "Majestic" (with shorter leaves and tall peduncles), "Royal Purple" (with bright purple flowers), "Monroe White" (with white flowers), "Okina" (with matte whitish leaves);
Liriope spicata (Liriope spicata) is the most winter-hardy species, distinguished by narrower wintering leaves, reaching a height of 40 cm, and gray-violet or white inflorescences. A very popular variety is “Silver Dragon”, which is notable for its silver leaves and lavender flowers;
Liriope platyphylla - grows up to 40 cm in height, distinguished by striped leaves and dark purple flowers;
Liriope mouse hyacinth (Liriopelour muscari) differs from other species mainly in the size of the leaves, which reach a height of 65 cm, and higher peduncles.
In garden culture, Liriope is most often used to decorate borders, mixborders and rock gardens, and also as a ground cover plant. Recently, growing Liriope as a houseplant has become increasingly popular. These incredibly decorative perennials often decorate balconies and verandas.
In addition, the tubers of Liriope spica are used in medicine in the homeland of this plant.
Secrets to successfully growing Liriope
Growing Liriope is not particularly difficult and even beginner gardeners can do it. This plant is quite drought and frost resistant (down to –15°C). However, Liriope does not tolerate excess moisture; it is from stagnant water that it needs to be protected most of all.
Both shady places and open sunny areas are suitable as a habitat for Liriope, but most varieties prefer diffused light. The soil must be lime-free and have good drainage. Basic plant care involves timely watering, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers from June to September every 10-14 days, removing faded inflorescences and covering with dry foliage for the winter. Liriope grows quite quickly and begins to bloom sparingly, so it needs to be renewed every 1-2 years.
Usually, Liriope is propagated in the spring by vegetative means using suckers, which, after carefully separating them, are planted immediately in open ground at a distance of 30-50 cm. At first, the separated plants are shaded and only lightly watered.
In summer, Liriope can also be propagated by seeds, which are soaked for 24 hours before sowing. But this method is very rarely used by flower growers.
When growing Liriope in containers, you also need to take care of drainage, prepare a mixture of turf soil, humus, peat and sand as soil, and do not forget about applying fertilizers. Indoor Liriope should be grown at a temperature of 10-15 ° C, and in winter, placed in a cooler room and reduced watering. If Liriope grows strongly, the bush must be divided into parts with pieces of rhizomes and 8-10 leaves and planted in separate pots.
Possible difficulties
Liriope does not tolerate waterlogging with difficulty, so if there is excess moisture, root rot can develop. In this case, the plant must be carefully dug up or removed from the container, the roots must be washed with a pink solution of potassium permanganate, then dried, after removing the damaged parts, and the plant must be planted in a new place (for indoor Liriope, the soil in the container must be changed).
Sometimes the plant can be attacked by aphids, snails, slugs, scale insects, thrips and spider mites. Various insecticides are helpful in controlling these pests.
Liriope is a perennial herbaceous plant with graceful features. It has not yet won the universal love of flower growers, but is confidently gaining popularity. Delicate clumps of grass-like foliage and bright, dense inflorescences will not leave anyone indifferent. And the ease of caring for liriope will be a pleasant bonus.
Botanical characteristics
Liriope is classified as a separate genus of the Liliaceae family. This plant lives in the vast expanses of China, Japan, the Philippines and other countries of East Asia. It has a weakly branched, vertically directed rhizome. The root system consists of thin roots covered with small nodules.
The ground part of liriope does not exceed 20-70 cm in height. Narrow leaves form a dense, spherical clump. The tough foliage has a smooth side edge and a pointed end. The leaf blade is painted in a rich green color; there are variegated varieties. The leaf width does not exceed 1.5 cm, with a length of about 35 cm.
During the flowering period (from August to October), a loose inflorescence in the form of a panicle or spike is formed on a dense, erect peduncle. The buds are tubular in shape with a spherical thickening at the end. The opened flowers consist of six wide-open oval petals. They are painted in white, lilac, blue, purple and pinkish shades. At the core there are protruding bright yellow stamens. The flowers have a faint pleasant aroma.
In place of each bud, a fruit is tied - a simple two-seed capsule. The round seeds with a dark, rough surface are 7 mm in diameter.
Liriope species
In the small genus Liriope, only a few plant species can be used for cultivation. Breeders have even developed several hybrid varieties so that flower growers can buy liriope with the most suitable set of characteristics or create a varied composition.
Liriope muscari. The plant has a vertical rhizome with cones and tough long foliage. Sometimes a longitudinal yellow stripe appears on the leaves. The height of the clumps is 70 cm. Multiple inflorescences are densely covered with white or light purple flowers. Flowering occurs in September-October. Based on this variety, the following varieties were bred:
This species tolerates frost better than others. A fibrous superficial root system feeds wide and dense clumps. The height of the flowering plant is 30-40 cm. The leaves are hard, lanceolate. On shorter, dense peduncles there is a dense paniculate inflorescence. The flowers are painted in silver, light purple or bluish shades.
The plant forms low (up to 40 cm) clumps with wider, longer foliage. The leaves are green, darker in the center. The flower stalks are shorter than the foliage and are densely covered with bright blue-violet flowers.
Reproduction methods
Liriope is propagated by sowing seeds or dividing the bush. The first method is considered more labor-intensive. At the end of spring, the seeds collected in the previous year are soaked in water for a day and then immediately planted in open ground. In the garden, shallow furrows are prepared and they try to place the seeds at a distance of 5-10 cm. Later, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving the strongest plants. The distance should be 30-40 cm.
In early spring, you can divide the overgrown bush into several sections. The plant easily tolerates this procedure. It is necessary to completely dig up the bush and cut the root into several parts. Each division should contain at least 10 leaves. The plant is planted in shallow holes at a distance of 40 cm from each other. During the rooting period, it is necessary to create a small shade and regularly water the clumps.
Rules of care
Liriope has an unpretentious nature and does not require special care. It grows actively and is an excellent ground cover plant. The plant feels good in the shade and in bright sun. Variegated forms in the shade may lose their bright colors. It is optimal to choose a bright place with some shade from the midday sun.
Liriope needs regular watering in the summer heat. In cooler weather, irrigation is done less frequently. The plant tolerates drought normally, but may suffer from flooding of the rhizome. Neutral or slightly acidic fertile soils with good drainage properties are suitable for planting. It is recommended to add river sand and leaf humus to the hole before planting. For aeration, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil.
Bloom
During the growing season, it is recommended to apply mineral or organic fertilizers twice a month. Before flowers appear, complexes based on nitrogen salts can be used, and during the flowering period, liriope is fed with compounds containing phosphorus and potassium.
Air humidity is not of great importance for curtains. They do not suffer from dry air, but moisture from spraying will not cause problems. When growing indoors, it is recommended to spray the leaves weekly and wipe off the dust. Wilted flowers need to be pruned in a timely manner to stimulate the appearance of new flower stalks.
2-3 years after planting, the plant needs updating. Without this procedure, the thickets gradually dry out and stop blooming profusely. A large bush is dug up, divided into smaller clumps and planted in fresh soil mixture.
Liriope winters well in open ground in regions where the temperature does not drop below -15°C. In mild cold weather, it is enough to sprinkle the clumps with fallen leaves and spruce branches. Snow cover is already a good shelter and food for the roots. In harsher climates, it is worth using non-woven material.
Possible difficulties
Of the possible diseases, liriope can only suffer from root rot due to improper watering. It is important to allow the water to completely evaporate.
Sometimes hordes of aphids, spider mites, scale insects and slugs find shelter in lush, dense greenery. Spraying with insecticides, as well as sprinkling the soil with ash, helps to cope with them.
Usage
Liriope is highly valued in landscape design. The plant looks good near paths, trees or along the edge of a flower bed. Low growths with delicate flowers are suitable for creating dense islands in the garden or as container plantings. It is used in rock gardens or next to bright flowering plants.
Liriope muscari is a plant grown primarily for its lavender-blue flowers and charming leaves.
Reproduction of liriope
Seed propagation of such a plant is used only by breeders to develop new varieties, so at home you can only use division of the rhizome.
In this case, the adult plant is divided into several parts when transplanted, each of which is planted in a separate pot with the same substrate in which the mother plant grew. At first, young plants should be provided with shading, and after rooting is complete, they are provided with normal care.
Liriope: growth and flowering patterns
The leathery, arched, drooping dark green leaves of this plant can reach a length of up to 45 cm and 2 cm in width. Typically, a plant grows many such leaves that form a thick mop.
Lavender-blue flowers are collected in inflorescences that grow on the tops of long peduncles.
Liriope: care features
Liriope prefers to grow in shaded, warm places where bright sunlight does not reach. This plant needs replanting every year, but you can use universal soil for indoor plants.
During active growth, the plant needs abundant watering. In winter, a period of rest begins; watering should become economical. Feeding is required every 2-3 weeks in the summer.
In the house, liriope muscari should be in a shaded place, protected from bright sunlight. In summer it feels normal at room temperature, in winter it is recommended to maintain it at 15 degrees.
Possible problems
If the base of the leaves is watered too much, the plants may turn brown - this is a sign of rot. To prevent this, the plant does not need to be watered very much and often sprinkled with water.
Among the pests, this plant is sometimes attacked by scale insects and aphids. To combat them, you should use an insecticidal preparation.
