Liriope - General Literature
li: Hume, H.H. 1961. The Ophiopogon-Liriope complex. Baileya 9: 134-158

'Ariaka-janshige' ('Ariake-janshiga') - click image
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Summer 2004. This beats L. muscari 'Variegata' for density, floriferousness, and the contrast of the flower stalks. A wonderful plant that should not be rare.

Liriope exiliflora 'Ariaka-janshige' ('Ariake-janshiga')
ht: 25cm
ls: striped golden yellow
ns: correct spelling is not determined at this time. Both names above have been seen.

Liriope gigantea = L. muscari 'Giant' and other cultivars in part, including the variegated 'Aztec Giant'

Liriope muscari 'Aztec' ('Mexican Giant')
ht: 18-24 in. in bloom
lc: white margined
fc: white
lu: this is one of the largest, boldest clones ever released. It has replaced 'Variegata' in some areas.
so: San Felasco

Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'
ha: stronger, all parts larger
lw: wider than species, usually longer as well.
fc: rich bluish-lavender
infl: narrowly tapered, not crested
ns: some plants in the US as the species are this superior clone

Liriope muscari 'Big Spire'
infl: held above foliage, fasciated (crested)
fc: violet-blue
bt: blooms before 'Big Blue'

Liriope muscari 'Bigun' (2/5)
ht: 18-24 in. tall in flower
lc: dark green
lt: slight twisted
lw: very wide, often 0.5-0.75 in. wide
ll: 14-18 in. - very long by comparison to others
fc: corolla dark violet (RHS 79Cm 86D)
fd: raceme 12-18 in. long - shorter than some 'Big Blue' as 12-14 in.
infl: up to 50 racemes per plant
bt: 7-10 days before 'Big Blue'
pat, or: James Berry, Daphne AL USA 1996 as open pollinated seedling of 'Big Blue', US# 15474 on 1/11/05

Liriope muscari 'Border Gem'
ht: 8 in. - rather dwarf
fc: lilac
ll: 8 in. - shorter than many cultivars

Liriope muscari 'C.T. Tanner'
lc: variegated
fc: white
li: Louisiana Nursery Catalog 1990-1992: 69.

Liriope muscari 'California Hybrid'
lc: mostly white
fc: lavender
frc: greenish-white

'Christmas Tree' ('Monroe #2') - click image
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Summer 2004.

Liriope muscari 'Christmas Tree' ('Monroe #2')
fc: light lavender
infl: narrowly pyramidal like a miniature Christmas tree. Unfortunately they are often buried
infl: in the leaf mass.
so: source (Viette)

Liriope muscari CLEOPATRA™ (3.5)
ht: 24 in. - very tall in flower
ha: larger, moe robust than most clones
fc: corolla bright purple
infl: held well above foliage
in: Plants by Mail (online catalog 2005)

Liriope muscari 'Curly Twist'
ls: twisted, curled
infl: mostly hidden in foliage mass
ft: corolla not as flaring as species typical

Liriope muscari 'Eleven-0-Three'
ha: open-centered
lw: narrower than most cultivars
infl: longer than species typical
fc: light violet-blue

Liriope muscari 'Evergreen Giant'
ht: 12-18 in. - taller
ls: thicker, stiffer
fc: violet-purple

Liriope muscari 'Exiliflora' = L. exiliflora

Liriope muscari 'Giant' (L. gigantea hort., L. muscari 'Gigantea')
ht: 10-14 in. foliage, larger in flower
ha: vigorous, larger in all parts
ns: this name is invalid in Latin form. It may prove to be a synonym of 'Evergreen Giant' in some or
ns: all examples. The name L. gigantea 'Merton Jacobs' appears in the US Patent Register for another clone of
ns: this type.

Liriope muscari 'Gold Banded'
ha: leaves have a bit more elegant arch than many cultivars.
lc: dark green narrowly margined gold. May lose much of its variegation in deep shade.
so: source (Viette)
so: Carroll Gardens

Liriope muscari 'Grandiflora'
infl: larger than species typical
fc: light lavender

Liriope muscari 'Green Midget'
so: source (Viette)

'Hawks Feather' - click image to enlarge
Plant Delights Nursery. Spring 2004. A remarkable and distinct mutation, perhaps one that only a collector could love.

Liriope muscari 'Hawks Feather' (6/4)
lc: blades ornately mottled, often with a transverse pattern in light yellow to cream, giving the
lc: a pattern not unlike the wings of some hawk species. It is a very subtle pattern but one of
lc: beauty upon close inspection. It looks odd from a distance. It has a waxy look, the chimera
lc: being subdued by whitish lines in the undersides of the leaves. Some blades almost look
lc: as if stained or watermarked by milk or cream-colored ink.

Liriope muscari 'Ingwersen' (11/01)
fc: dark violet
eval: known in the British trade but yet unknown in the US
so: Beeches Nursery (online catalog 2001 without description)

Liriope muscari 'Jeanerette'
fc: lavender
li: Louisiana Nursery Catalog 1990-1992: 69.

Liriope muscari 'John Birch' = 'John Burch'

'John Burch' - click image
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond VA USA. Summer 2004.

Liriope muscari 'John Burch'
lc: Originally having a chartreuse central band on dark green, but often appearing all green in deep shade or from
lc: a distance. At least one clone under this (as in the photo above), has thin white margins. There are some
lc: where variegation is never present, suggesting reversions may occur or the trait is easily masked by the
lc: extreme environments. If the original clone was chartreuse-banded in the center and we have many marginate
lc: plants today it is possible a reversal of the leaf chimera has occured as it does so often in Hosta. It would be
lc: wise to collect as many 'John Burch' as one can and compared the chimeras in all.  
lw: wider blades than species typical
infl: larger, crested or cockscomb type, usually held above foliage
so: Carroll Gardens
so: source (Viette)

Liriope muscari 'Lilac Beauty'
lc: dark green
fc: deep lilac
infl: held above foliage
bt: later than species typical
so: Carroll Gardens
so: source (Viette)

Liriope muscari 'Love Potion No. 13' (4/4)
ht: 18-24 in. tall - very large
lc: dark green (RHS 137A,B)
ll, lw: 18 in. long x 0.5 in. wide - very wide and long
fc: dark violet (RHS 88A, 88D, 80D)
fq: floriferous, up to 69 inflor. on one plant
bt: earlier and longer than most large clones, including parent 'Evergreen Giant'
or: Ron Love FL USA as sport of 'Evergreen Giant'
pat: US PPAF by originator 2/19/04

'Majestic' ('Majestica') - click image
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, NC USA. Summer 2004. This clone is very florferious. One can see larger inflorescences in less shaded examples.

Liriope muscari 'Majestic' ('Majestica')
ha: vigorous, stronger than most cultivars. Clumps can be more open than some others.
fc: lavender
infl: very compact, denser than 'Big Blue', often crested. In one clone is a very narrow and not always branched.
so: source (Roslyn Nursery)

Liriope muscari 'Merton Jacobs' (11/01)(L. gigantea 'Merton Jacobs')
ht: 24-30 in. tall x 24-30 in. wide (as species)
ha: more vigorous than species typical though of the same dimensions. The species has
ha: thinner foliage with about 40% fewer leaves than this clone.
fc: rich violet (RHS 85B in bud becoming 79D, 76A near apex)
infl: raceme 14-18 in. long larger than species at 6-10 in. Flowers held well above foliage.
fq: 50 or more racemes are common on mature, older plants.
lw: 5/16-7/16" (species is 6/16-10/16")
lc: dark green (RHS 137A) - species is said to be RHS 137B
pat: US #12068 8/28/01 to Randall Merton Jacobs, Bushnell FL USA
ns: the taxon L. gigantea is doubtful is likely a polyploid or ultra-vigorous L. muscari of which 'Evergreen Giant'
ns: and 'Aztec' are popular clones.
or: from open pollinated seedling of species found at Flowerwood Nur. Bushnell FL USA by
or: Randall Merton Jacobs in 1994.
in: Plant Development Services Inc, Loxley, AL USA

Liriope muscari 'Mexican Giant' = 'Aztec'

Liriope muscari 'Miniature'
ha: dwarf, compact but reasonably vigorous
li: Louisiana Nursery Catalog 1990-1992: 69.

Liriope muscari 'Moneymaker'
ha: dense clumping - less so than 'Summer Beauty' but superior to 'Big Blue'
fc: rich lilac-blue by European reports. Plant Var. Journal 17(1): 614 states "violet-blue" (RHS 92D becoming 90D)
ll: 24.5cm long x 7.0cm wide - narrower than 'Summer Beauty' and 'Big Blue'
infl: 7-10cm long - shorter than 'Summer Beauty'
ft: inflor. held above foliage
ns: a listed name from Germany. It is also in the Australian trade and a parent of 'Summer Beauty'

Liriope muscari 'Monroei' = 'Monroe White'

Liriope muscari 'Monroe's #1' = 'Monroe's White'

Liriope muscari 'Monroe's #2' = 'Christmas Tree'

Liriope muscari 'Monroe's White' ('Monroe's #1', 'Munroe's White')
ha: slower than most newer cultivars
fc: white
infl: larger than species typical and most older white selections
lc: dark green
lu: requires some shade for best growth
so: source (Viette)
so: Carroll Gardens
so: source (Roslyn Nursery)

Liriope muscari 'Munro No. 1' = 'Monroe's White'
ns: this name is used in G.S. Thomas' Perennial Garden Plants and the error thus persists in
ns: some English circles.

Liriope muscari 'New Wonder'
ht: 8 in.
fc: lilac-blue

'Okina' - click image
JC Raulston Arboretum. Summer 2004. A plant only a collector could love.

Liriope muscari 'Okina' (1/02)
ht: 10 in.
lc: up 75% of blade white with minute spots and lines of dark green, the tips almost always darker
lc: green. Reminds one of an artistically blanched vegetable. Better contrast in cool weather. In ordinary
lc: conditions in winter it merely looked sun-bleached and is not very impressive.
lc: Becomes all green later in year.
fc: lilac
or: Akira Shibamichi, Japan
so: Plant Delights (Spring 2002 Catalog: 77, with color photo)

Liriope muscari 'Original Big Blue' = 'Big Blue'

Liriope muscari 'Paul Aden'
lc: yellow and green variegated
fc: violet
so: Cotswold Garden Flowers

'Pee Dee Gold Ingot' - click image
JC Raulston Arboretum. Spring 2003. This beauty functions like a strap-leaved Hosta cultivar and is surely more durable than most
in that genus. It will burn in extreme hot summers but is remarkably sun tolerant with a bit of afternoon shade.

Liriope muscari 'Pee Dee Gold Ingot' ('Pee Dee Ingot')
ht: 10 in.
lc: yellow but more chartreuse in part or all shade.
fc: lavender-blue
or: Ursula Herz, SC USA
ns: originally listed as 'Pee Dee Gold Ingot' so we will continue use of this original name.
so: Coastal Gardens 803-293-2000
so: Roslyn Nursery

'Purple Bouquet' - click image
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Summer 2004.

Liriope muscari 'Purple Bouquet'
lc: dark green
lw: wider than species typical
fc: rich purple
infl: racemes well above foliage.

Liriope muscari 'Royal Purple'
lc: dark green
fc: rich purple
infl: flowers more densely borne than species typical
so: Carroll Gardens
so: source (Viette)

Liriope muscari 'Samantha'
ht: 10 in.
lc: dark green
lw: narrow
fc: lavender pink, the color varying with temperature
bt: early blooming
so: Carroll Gardens

Liriope muscari 'Silver Banded'
ha: slow-growing
lc: margined yellowish-white becoming margined white then mostly green
fc: dark violet-blue
ft: perianth has a 1mm long projection

Liriope muscari 'Silvery Midget' ('Silver Midget')
ht: 8 in. - lower than most variegated clones
lc: narrowly margined white
so: source (Viette)

Liriope muscari 'Silver Ribbon' (11/01)
so: Beeches Nursery (online catalog 2001 without description)

'Silvery Sunproof' - click image

Liriope muscari 'Silvery Sunproof'
lc: numerous creamy white stripes, being more yellowish marked in shade. New growth is also a bright
lc: yellow at first. It is not entirely silver until mid to late summer and then only if in full sun.
fc: lavender
fq: floriferous
lu: has a reputation for being more sun tolerant but long drought and heat ruins any Liriope.
so: source (Roslyn Nursery)
so: Carroll Gardens

Liriope muscari 'Summer Beauty' (3/5)
ha: more densely clumping, vigorous compared to 'Moneymaker' and 'Big Blue'
lc: yellowish-green (RHS 147A) above - same measurement as 'Big Blue'
ll: mean: 18.6cm long x 1.2cm wide
infl: 10-13cm long, densely covered in flowers - 'Big Blue' rates 7-10cm long (shorter)
ft: inflor. held above foliage unlike 'Big Blue'
fc: corolla violet-blue in bud (RHS 92A), later violet-blue (RHS 90D, 91A)
bt: long bloom period
or: Ursula Mueller, Birkdale, Queensland 2000 as sport of 'Moneymaker' notable for 1) more density, 2) wider blades, and 3) heavier flowering
li: Plant Varieties Journal 17(1): 612-615

Liriope muscari SUPER GREEN GIANT™ (12/02)
ht: 18 in. - taller
infl: larger than species typical and most clones perhaps
fc: dark lavender
in: Plantdevelopment.com (online website 2002)

Liriope muscari 'Superba'
lc: dark green
lw: wider than species typical
fc: silvery lilac
ft: dense, often crested at the inflorescence apex.
bt: earlier blooming than most cultivars
so: Carroll Gardens

Liriope muscari 'Variegata'
lc: margined and striped creamy to yellow becoming whiter variegated with age.
ns: numerous clones and variations are under this name so named clones are to be preferred.

'Webster's Wideleaf' - click image
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, VA USA. Summer 2003.

Liriope muscari 'Webster's Wideleaf'
lc: dark green
lw, ls: very broad, often with longitudinal ridges and folds in the leaves. Others have
lw, ls: distinct parallel venation rather than ridges. Very distinct leaf.
fc: lilac purple
so: Carroll Gardens

Liriope muscari 'White on White'
lc: creamy white margined and variegated
fc: white, similar to 'Monroe's White' for quality
in: Carroll Gardens catalog c. 1996
so: Carroll Gardens

Liriope platyphylla 'Okina'
lc: white new growth becoming green.

Liriope platyphylla 'Variegata'
lc: striped yellow

Liriope spicata 'Alba' (11/01)
fc: presumably white - species is lilac to light violet
so: Beeches Nursery (online catalog 2001 without description)

Liriope spicata 'Franklin Mint'
ht: 12-15 in. - larger than species
ha: more robust and larger than species in all parts. Large like L. muscari but stoloniferous rather
ha: than clump-forming.
infl: erect, larger than species, being often as large as L. muscari
so: Carroll Gardens

'Silver Dragon' - click image
This Japanese clone is notable for having a whiter look due to a larger chimera than most clones in this genus and Ophiopogon. It does not
burn except in the hottest and dryest of conditions if given afternoon shade. Tucked around a tree or shrub it will find it's own comfort zone
for both moisture and light. Being a non-clumper (as is the species), it spreads to form full and thick masses as no L. muscari could hope to
do in less 20 years.

Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon' ('Gin Ryu')
lc: heavily striped clean pure white up to 60% of the surface. Highly colorful from a distance
fc: light purple - a bit darker than some species variants.
eval: if you have ever seen a 10 foot wide, happy patch of this it you'll never forget it - very bright
eval: and pretty stuff.
ns: 'Silver Dragon' is an allowed translation of the Japanese cultivar name.

Liriope spicata 'Small Green' (11/01)
ht: 10cm
ha: vigorous
so: Beeches Nursery (online catalog 2001)