Liriope ‘Big Blue’
Liriope 'Big Blue'
* Common name: Lilyturf ‘Big Blue’
* Botanical name: Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’
* What it is: One of the toughest and most versatile perennial flowers you’ll ever grow, liriope ‘Big Blue’ has grassy-looking foliage and purple flower spikes that last from late August into early fall. It then gets non-messy, black berries that birds eat in fall. The foliage stays green most winters.
* Size: Foliage grows about a foot tall with flower spikes that poke a few inches higher.
* Where to use: One of those rare plants that will take sun or shade, damp or dry and everything in between. Makes a great edging but also an excellent, dense groundcover, even in dry shade under trees where little else will grow.
* Care: Needs only occasional watering in the worst dry spells and little, if any, fertilizer. Cut to a stub each March before new growth starts. Last year’s leaves will brown out later in the spring if you don’t. Even a lawn mower or weed whacker is fine… you won’t hurt them. ‘Big Blue’ creeps slowly, not invasively like Liriope spicata types. But if it spreads where you don’t want it, it divides easily in spring or fall to make new plants.
* Great partner: Contrasts nicely with the wide leaves of hosta or dark-leafed coralbells in shadier settings. Also makes nice underplantings around trees and pairs well with boxwoods in a more formal front-yard setting.
My planting is now about 4 years old and although it flowered pretty well the first year, has produced little to no flowers the past three years. We live in central Florida and the about half of the plants are in a border under a Queen palm, while the others are on the west side of the house interspersed with azalea plants. Any suggestions?
Joe,
Most liriope varieties aren’t very strong bloomers to start with. The more stress from things like poor soil, drought or root competition and the more shade, bloom is even less. I like liriope for its durability, versatility and grassy texture. I look at any flowers as a bonus.
You might try fertilizing them (maybe three or four times in the sandy soil of Florida) and maybe dividing them if you’d like to trade off possibly more flowering for the thickness of a 4-year-old groundcover.
If you were starting from scratch, I’d recommend the variety Purple Explosion. It’s the best liriope bloomer I’ve run across.
Hi George,
Thanks for the info.
I have been fertilizing them three or four times a year with Sunniland “Bloom Special” fertilizer (2-10-10). I will try dividing them, as some are now spreading into the path on the side of the house and have to be divided anyway. When I do, I’ll amend the soil a bit. Our sub-division is built on an old citrus grove and it is mostly sand and clay. The builders didn’t do much to improve the soil. Regardless, I’ll just have to be happy with the nice foliage and whatever blooms they produce.
Thanks again.
Joe