Liriope

Liriope, commonly known as lilyturf, occupies a useful middle ground between ornamental grass and flowering perennial. Tufts of narrow, arching foliage form neat evergreen or semi-evergreen clumps, then later in the season upright spikes of small purple, lilac or white flowers rise above the leaves. The contrast is subtle but distinctive, giving shady planting a welcome lift when many spring-flowering woodland plants have long finished.

This is an especially useful plant for repeating beneath shrubs, along paths or through the front of shaded borders. Liriope plants tolerate partial shade particularly well and prefer soil that retains some moisture while remaining reasonably well drained. Once established, lilyturf clumps create dependable ground-level structure and can suppress the bare look that sometimes develops beneath larger shrubs and trees.

For UK planting schemes where foliage has to work for much of the year, lilyturf plants bring continuity without looking static. They combine easily with ferns, hostas and other shade-loving perennials, yet their upright flower spikes give them enough character to stand apart. Bare-root Liriope is therefore as useful for the spaces between other plants as it is as a feature in its own right.