Liriope muscari Super Blue

Liriope 'Super Blue' is a beautiful improvement of the 'Big Blue' variety. It is remarkable for the abundance and brightness of its intense lavender-coloured flowering. More vigorous and taller, this variety quickly forms beautiful dense clumps, reminiscent of dark green glossy-leaved grasses that spread and cover the soil, suffocating 'weeds' without becoming invasive. It has a long flowering in late summer. It remains decorative in winter. This variety also tolerates the sun better. Once well established, it will tolerate summer drought. It works wonders at the base of deciduous trees and shrubs, as well as in borders, along pathways, in planters and flower pots.

Liriope 'Super Blue' belongs to the Asparagaceae family. This new vigorous and floriferous hybrid is derived, among others, from L. muscari, native to temperate Southeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam). This herbaceous perennial with short, fibrous rhizomes is clump-forming, and therefore non-invasive. Its stems are almost non-existent. It forms an opulent bouquet of leaves, measuring 45 to 50cm (18 to 20in) in all directions, slowly widening to form large, attractive dark patches throughout the year. Its leaves are quite flexible, slightly trailing, ribbon-like, and lanceolate. They measure 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) long and about 1 to 2cm (1in) wide. They are glossy and very dark green. Flowering takes place from August to October, depending on the climate, on short purple flower spikes. It takes the form of inflorescences in spikes, 50 to 55cm (20 to 22in) in height, just slightly taller than the foliage. They are numerous, with small round bell-shaped flowers of bright lavender-blue tightly packed together. The nectar-rich flowering is popular with butterflies. It is followed by the formation of round, black and shiny fruits, which are quite decorative.

Liriope 'Super Blue' is an elegant, versatile and very useful plant in a garden. Its great resistance to cold, drought, and light shade allows it to be used in many situations: in light woodland, at the base of trees, as a border to emphasise the design of a pathway, in a rockery alongside heathers, or in Japanese-style gardens. Combine this beautiful 'Super Blue' variety with Heuchera 'Chantilly' in moist soil, with the 'Monroe White' variety with white stems and flowers, with small spring bulbs (snowdrops, muscari, botanical narcissus), or with small cyclamen in a border or a rockery exposed to morning sun. It grows very well in large pots, on a patio or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive watering neglect.