when i moved into my house, the driveway and front walk was already lined in lirirope. i know lirirope is an 'overused' plant, but its already there and it looks clean. some of the spaces are bare, so i'd like to fill them- so the the lirirope will be as thick as possible. as far as i know, i should just dig up big clumps of them and divide them like hostas. last year, i dug up some lirirope from the 'meadow' next to the driveway opposite my front yard.i waited for them to bloom so they'd be easier to find. lirirope does not grow wild, and its easy to see where its been delberately planted. but about the ones growing randomly in the 'meadow' side of my driveway- well, how did they get there? birds spread them like suckers? it makes me wonder if there is some other means of propagating them. when i first got here, all i could think of was-how many flowers i'd plant. now , my main objective is to make my yard'clean'. yellowjackets, mice, spiders, snakes, weeds, etc. the lirirope is a readily avalible ground cover to me, and i feel im finishing a mass planting begun by the previous owners.thank you for any advice.-pine

 

Liriope spreads via rhizomes (underground stems) and seeds from berries. It can be quite invasive. Seeds can also be spread by birds who eat the berries. If you wish to transplant some to fill in borders, go right ahead. Dig clumps and separate. If it is invading areas where you do not want it, you can use chemical control.

 

There are two different types of liriope. One spreads by clumping and seeds and isn't very invasive. The other is spread by runners and can be quite invasive. It's often called monkey grass. I expect that you have the former.

Just dig up some of the larger clumps and divide or dig the small ones out of the 'meadow' and transplant, grouping several of the small plants together. I don't think you will need chemical control if you keep the 'meadow' mowed.

Newt

 

Liriope and monkey grass are similar in appearance and both are members of the lily family. Both are called lily turf, with monkey grass sometimes being referred to a dwarf lily turf. Monkey grass is sometimes referred to as mondo grass, and liriope as border grass. Monkey grass is ophiopogon, a kissing cousin to liriope, but not liriope.

For some great photos & info:

http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.co...hio_Mondo.html

http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.co...lackMondo.html

http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.co...riope_Big.html

http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.co...pe_Monroe.html

http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog...ail/03096.html

http://www.hort.net/gallery/view/lil/lirmuva/

http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/plantl.../li_icata.html

 

Twelvepole,

That was quite an education. Hope I can remember it all. Thanks!

Newt

 

thank you, twelve. i even ran into the magnolia garden site as i kept looking. it definately looks like the big blue. i dont think its creeping because it hasnt moved up the banks or out away from the walkway. i do think , then - that the ones in the meadow were spread like suckers. like i said, im finishing a mass planting begun by the previous owners. so, if i could do that by seed , it would be so much cheaper. im already picturing a sunroom full of seed trays of lirope. then , my entire driveway would be as thick and clean looking all the way down and on both sides as it does at the walkway in less time for less money. thats what im hoping to do , anyway. i have been typing it into search engines and trying to figure out the best way to collect and store the seeds. but, if im going to collect them in the fall and they take 'months' to germinate-they may germinate in time to plant when they are a few inches tall, right? then, do i still have to dry them? im going to keep looking into this, i have several months before i'll see any seeds anyway.thank you again.-pine

 

Recommended propagation is by division. Older, bushier clumps easily be separated and new plants started. Your ground cover should fill in rather quickly.

 

i have so much space to fill, i hoped i could get off cheap and easy by seed. now, im beginning to look at this as like starting hosta by seed. something that is not normally done.i will collect a few seeds and try to start them . seed trays are so cheap, what have i got to lose? i will definately come back and let you know how un or sucessful i was. i hope it works out , and i always appreciate the info and the links i recieve here. thats why i keep coming back.thank you, all.-pine

 

Hi Pine,

Good deal! If you want to start seeds, use a soilless seed starting mix only available at your local nurseries. I tried for several years and used a potting soil you can by ANYWHERE. I had what is called "damping off disease". The plants come up, then the stem nearest the potting soil becomes thread size and the plants fall over and die. You don't have that problem with the right mix.

Gami