Ornamental grass · North Texas care guide
Liriope muscari
Nursery Pro tip: The border plant. Big Blue for edging, Variegata for brightness. Mow it in February.
The most-planted edging plant in Texas: grassy evergreen clumps 12–18 in tall with lavender flower spikes in late summer and black berries after. Clumping varieties ('Big Blue', 'Evergreen Giant', variegated forms) stay put; the spreading kind travels, so know which one you're buying.
Sun, part shade or full shade — it does well in all three, which is why it's everywhere. Any soil. Space 12–15 in apart for a solid border.
Any season; spring and fall are easiest. Hole twice the pot width, crown at soil level, native soil, Root Stimulator, mulch.
Weekly the first summer, then every week or two. Very drought tolerant once established.
Optional light spring feeding.
Mow or shear the whole planting to 3–4 in in late February, before the new growth pushes — that one cut each year is all the maintenance it needs, and it makes a border look new. Don't cut after growth starts or you'll have ragged tips all season.
Crown rot in constantly wet soil. Scale occasionally. The spreading (creeping) type can invade a bed — keep it where you can edge it.
Edging walks and beds, under trees where grass won't grow, and mass-planted on slopes. With nandina, hollies, Turk's cap and caladiums.
Written for Rockwall's black clay, heat and winters by the Landscape Source team. Every yard is different — bring a photo by, or ask LS-Ai, and we'll tailor it to your spot.