You may also run into the following cultivars:
- 'Majestic' (sometimes designated as a species -- L. majestica, but this name has no botanical standing and it is a cultivar of L. muscari). This one can often be fasciated, a strange phenomenon, where the stem is flattened with leaves or flowers growing from it. I haven't seen this in Liriope, so I can only imagine that all the flower stalks are connected together. My only experience with this has been on Digitalis, when the flower stem looks something like a flat stalk of celery, curling at the tip, with leaves and flowers growing out of it at odd intervals. Strange looking, to say the least! I understand fasciation can occur in many plants in a random way and can be caused by a virus or some other gene mutation. 'Majestic' has large, deep lilac flowers and gets 12 to 24 inches (30 - 60 cm) tall.
- 'Monroe's White' (this is a variation on the species and is also know as L. muscari var. Monroei). Its leaves are more narrow than the species; it has white flowers and gets about 12 inches (30 cm) tall.
- 'John Birch' has a thin border of creamy yellow edging each leaf blade. The flowers are lavender and it gets about 12 inches (30 cm) tall.
Liriope spicata
Liriope spicata, (Creeping Lilyturf), found in China and Vietnam, is rhizomatous and can be invasive. It makes a better groundcover than border plant, in my opinion. The leaves are narrower than those of L. muscari and can reach 24 inches (60 cm) long while the plant seldom gets taller than 8 to 12 inches. Rated hardy from USDA zones 4 to 10, L. spicata also tolerates moister soil than L. muscari. I have read that it also tolerates deeper shade, but I can't see any difference in my plants, who live cheek by jowl in some pretty deep shade!
The flowers are pale violet to almost white and the flower stems are lighter in color than those of L. muscari -- at least on my plants.
I've only run across one cultivar, 'Silver Dragon' which has green and white variegated leaves, lavender flowers and reaches about 12 inches (30 cm) tall.
Both species can be propagated by division in early spring. These plants form massive root systems, which is why the are so good at holding steep banks.
