Anyone have experience with Liorope?

I want to get it, but I don't know much about it.
I live in Santa Monica, CA, (10)

I have it and have used it to fill in spots in the landscape where I need something but don't want grass. Does well in sun or shade for me. The green and white striped doesn't spread but look out for the solid dark green - it will go everywhere and it is hard to control. Small purple flower (light lavender really) in summer. I have mowed with a lawn mower to 'refresh' and it does fine - after it grows more length - isn't too pretty when mowed. I much prefer the mondo grass - finer..shorter.. more controlled. More refined I think. With the lirope - to save money - you can purchase half of what you think you need (or even a third) and separate and plant. It grows quick from small plugs.

This message was edited Aug 18, 2008 1:49 PM

Amen to what Missingrosie said about the ordinary liriope, solid green leaf. It will reseed everywhere. The variegated also can be mown short in spring.

I have it as a border around a tree in the front yard and have found it growing on opposite sides of the house. I have the dark green and it grows like mad. I even save the seeds, for what I don't know.
My 9 yo thought it was funny to mow half of it back. It always comes back stronger.

Mondo grass is a kind of Liriope>

dale - is mondo as invasive as the ordinary lioripe? I haven't tried it because it is so expensive here --not sure why. I love that photo.

Mondo spreads by shallow underground runners, it is easy to curb with metal or plastic edging.

Where I would like the mondo - edging wouldn't look right. I have a small area pie shaped bordering the walkway and I have placed liroipe back end of the pie about 8 good size clumps ---next row - 7 - next row 6 etc. until I got to the 'point' of the pie - one clump. That space has filled in nicely and no longer looks 'planned' and if liriope not there could just be mulched but I thought the grass would look better and it does. One long side of the pie borders a very thick flagstone walkway and the other long side borders the drive. Behind the longest row of lioripe is a red twig dogwood and that is sited in front of a magnolia. Magnolia won't let anything survive around and under it, so I have mulched around it - but the liriope gets into the mulch and between the flagstone etc. I thought the very very low growing mondo would perhaps behave better - I guess not. Unfortunately, metal or plastic edging along the stone path and behind (or in front) of the dogwood wouldn't look so hot.

Rosie,

Edging, when properly installed, should be flush with the soil and wouldn't be seen. It is a root barrier. The leaves of the mondo will grow over/hang over the edge also.

Those kinds of edging that you see around lawns are badly installed, if you can see them.

This message was edited Aug 18, 2008 5:21 PM

OK - I will look at some to see if it will work out - sure will beat the constant maintenance for the liriope. It will depend on the magnolia roots and how difficult it is to dig. The reason that magnolia landed in that area is because a few inches down I run into this rock hard taupe colored clay - it is like cement (stinky cement) but If I can get a shovel in there I will sure consider that edging.

This message was edited Aug 18, 2008 6:12 PM

Too bad I am not in your neighborhood. I have solved problems like yours before. If I stopped by for about an hour I could show you how it get around any problem, tree roots, shallow soil etc. Landscaper is what I am (:-)

Lupin, not related to Liriope>

Like that lupin - it has a flower that reminds me of liatris or agastache and if similiar it is bee haven near that walkway. My husband is highly allergic to the sting (epi-pen allergic/fainting/dying allergic) and the mortgage isn't paid up yet. It was a landscaper that placed the liriope there! No complaints tho - he had to work around that magnolia that I put there! It's too close to the porch...it is messy too (smells heavenly) but it does work and that area is a horror. It rattles your teeth to strike it with a shovel. Hats off to the magnolia!

Wow, Thank you all for your feedback.
Missingrose, you are so helpful, and Dave, wow! I wish you lived in my neighborhood!

I've also been considering planting the green liriope around the base of a pine tree in my front yard. Would it be too invasive for Michigan? Another option is vinca major, which I already found in my back gardens, but I keep reading that's invasive also. I currently have a few hostas buried under some kind of extremely invasive vine, which I've been slowly removing. The soil tends to stay dry because of the pine tree and several large oak trees. I could water more frequently but prefer to plant with less maintenance in mind.