Liriope muscari Royal Purple

The Royal Purple Liriope is a variety of Liriope muscari that will charm with its more colourful flowering, of a violet-purple hue, as well as its beautifully dense and glossy foliage, of a very dark green. Forming a well-compacted clump of slender leaves that persist through winter, this plant somewhat resembles certain grasses. It is adorned in summer with densely-packed clusters of small bell-shaped flowers, clearly visible above the foliage. Hardy and highly resistant, capable of choking out 'weeds', this perennial makes for a low-maintenance ground cover. It will elegantly fill the base of trees, the borders of flower beds or pathways, pots, and can even replace the lawn in less frequented areas of the garden, including in dry shade.  

The Royal Purple Liriope belongs to the Liliaceae family (Asparagaceae), just like its native ancestor from temperate Southeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam). This herbaceous perennial with short and fibrous rhizomes forms dense clumps, so it is not invasive, and its stems are almost non-existent. It forms a dense bouquet of leaves, around 30 cm (12in) in all directions, slowly spreading to eventually create large, attractive dark patches throughout the year. Its leaves are quite flexible, slightly trailing, ribbon-like, lanceolate, measuring 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) in length and approximately 1 to 2 cm (0 to 1in) in width. They are glossy and a particularly dark green, sometimes marginated with purple. Flowering occurs from August to October, depending on the climate, on floral stems of a purple colour that rise well above the foliage. It takes the form of inflorescences in spikes of 40-45 cm (16-18in) in height, densely packed with numerous small round bells of an intense purple-violet hue. The flowering, nectar-rich and visited by butterflies, is followed by the formation of black fruits.

 The Liriope muscari is a discreet yet elegant, accommodating, versatile, and very useful plant in a garden. Its great resistance to cold, drought, and shade allows it to be used in many situations: in light woodland, at the base of trees, as a border to highlight the design of a pathway, in a rockery alongside heathers for example, or in Japanese-style gardens. Combine this lovely Lilac Wonder variety with Chantilly Heuchera in moist soil, with small spring bulbs (snowdrops, muscari, botanical narcissus), or even with lilies in a border or rockery exposed to morning sun. It is also a plant that grows very well in pots, on a windowsill or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive forgetfulness in watering, thrive in gardens without gardeners or weekend gardens.