Common Name

Lilyturf

Scientific Name

Liriope muscari

Also known as monkeygrass or spider grass in the Southeast, this common landscaping plant has become invasive in the United States. It is an herbaceous, grass-like flowering plant native to East and Southeast Asia. The small, showy flowers occur on erect spikes with tiered whorls of dense, white to purple flowers rising above the leaves in late summer. This and many other cultivars of this plant are commercially available but should be avoided, given its ability to escape residential gardens and its poor wildlife value.

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Tracheophyta
  • Class: Liliopsida
  • Order: Asparagales
  • Family: Asparagaceae
  • Genus: Liriope
  • Species: Liriope muscari
Habitat

Forest, Urban

Distribution

It is an understory plant in China, Japan, and Korea occurring in shady forests. Used in landscaping as a groundcover in the U.S. but has become invasive.

Abundance

Abundant

Activity Time

Diurnal

Diet

Behavior

Ecological Role

Invasive species displace native plants that provide forage and habitat for our native animals and insects.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threats & Impacts

Notes

In order to help stop its spread, it should be avoided in residential landscaping and flagged for removal in wild areas