Monkey Grass (Liriope): Types, Mondo vs Monkey, Spacing, Care and Cost

Key takeaways

• Two species share the name: Liriope muscari clumps and spreads slowly by short stolons; Liriope spicata runs by rhizomes into adjacent turf (Missouri Botanical Garden; UF/IFAS FPS-350). Mondo grass, Ophiopogon japonicus, has leaves about 1/8 in wide (UF/IFAS).
• Invasive listings: Georgia’s council list (September 2023) includes both species (GISC); Tennessee ranks L. spicata an Emerging Threat (TN-IPC); UF/IFAS rates both Moderate Risk/Evaluate across Florida (UF/IFAS Assessment).
• Spacing: UF/IFAS gives 12 to 18 in for ‘Variegata’, 18 to 24 in for ‘Evergreen Giant’ and 6 to 12 in for L. spicata (FPS-349; FPS-348; FPS-350). A 50 ft single-row border at 12 in takes 51 plants.
• Cut back before new growth: late January on the South Carolina coast, by mid-February upstate, with a mower at its highest setting (Clemson HGIC 1108).
• Price on Oct. 29, 2026: $2.80 per plant in a 54-pack of 3-inch pots to $21.95 for a 1-gallon pot across five online sellers (Plants by Mail; PlantingTree).
• Pets: the ASPCA lists Liriope muscari as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA).

What is monkey grass?

Monkey grass is the common name for Liriope muscari and Liriope spicata, evergreen perennials in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) from China, Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam. NC State Extension notes that it resembles an ornamental grass but is not a true grass. The same name is applied to mondo grass, Ophiopogon japonicus, which UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says is often confused with liriope.

LSU AgCenter publication P3940 (August 2024) adds the names big blue lilyturf and border grass and notes that liriope was moved from the lily family to the asparagus family (LSU AgCenter). Both species have fleshy, tuberous roots and late-summer flower spikes followed by black berries that last into winter (NC State). The Turf and Trees hub lists our other plant guides.

Trait	Liriope muscari (clumping)	Liriope spicata (creeping)	Source
Height	1 to 1.5 ft	6 in to 1.5 ft	NC State; NC State
Width	1 to 1.5 ft	1 to 2 ft	NC State; NC State
Leaf width	About 1 in (NC State, MBG); 3/8 to 1/2 in (Clemson)	About 1/4 in	MBG; Clemson
How it spreads	Clumps; short stolons	Rhizomes; spreads indefinitely	MBG; Clemson
USDA hardiness zones	5 to 10	4 to 10	NC State; MBG
Bloom	Purple spikes 6 to 8 in, August to September	Pale lavender to white, partly hidden in the leaves	NC State; MBG
Light	Full sun to deep shade	Partial to deep shade	NC State; NC State
Spacing	12 to 18 in (‘Variegata’)	6 to 12 in	UF/IFAS FPS-349; FPS-350
Foot traffic	Little tolerance	Will not tolerate regular traffic	MBG; UF/IFAS
USDA PLANTS record	No species profile found (Oct. 2026)	LISP10, introduced in the lower 48	USDA PLANTS

What is the difference between mondo grass and monkey grass?

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) has narrower leaves, flowers hidden in the foliage and blue fruit; monkey grass (liriope) has wider leaves and flower spikes held above them. Missouri Botanical Garden gives mondo leaves to 3/16 in wide on plants 8 to 12 in tall, against liriope leaves to 1 in wide on plants 12 to 18 in tall. UF/IFAS notes both get sold as monkey grass.

Feature	Monkey grass (L. muscari)	Creeping monkey grass (L. spicata)	Mondo grass (O. japonicus)	Source
Leaf width	To 1 in	To 1/4 in	1/8 to 3/16 in	MBG; UF/IFAS
Height	12 to 18 in	9 to 15 in	8 to 12 in	MBG; MBG; MBG
Flowers	Violet-purple spikes above the leaves, Aug. to Sept.	Pale lavender to white, partly hidden	White to lilac, short racemes hidden in the leaves, June to July	MBG; MBG
Fruit	Shiny black berries	Blue-black berries	Pea-sized blue berries	NC State; NC State
Spread	Short stolons, clumps	Rhizomes, fast	Stolons, slow	MBG; NC State
Hardiness zones	5 to 10	4 to 10	6 to 10 (NC State); 7 to 10 (MBG)	NC State; MBG
Foot traffic	Little tolerance	Not regular traffic	Resists foot traffic	MBG; UF/IFAS; NC State
UF/IFAS Florida assessment	Moderate Risk/Evaluate	Moderate Risk/Evaluate	Not a problem species	UF/IFAS; UF/IFAS

Mondo suits paths and stepping stones: NC State says it resists foot traffic and, used as shade turf, should be mowed once a year (NC State). MBG rates it only to zone 7, two zones short of liriope.

Is monkey grass invasive?

Creeping monkey grass, Liriope spicata, is the species most often listed as invasive: NC State calls it invasive in Tennessee and Georgia, and UF/IFAS fact sheet FPS-350 marks it “invasive and not recommended.” Clumping Liriope muscari spreads slowly by short stolons, yet Georgia’s council lists it too. USDA PLANTS shows no noxious or invasive status for L. spicata and has no L. muscari profile.

Where	Listing body	Liriope spicata	Liriope muscari	Date	Source
Georgia	Georgia Invasive Species Council plant list	Listed (creeping liriope)	Listed (monkeygrass)	Updated Sept. 2023	GISC
Tennessee	TN Invasive Plant Council, Natural Areas list	Emerging Threat: reported in fewer than 10 counties	Not listed	Current list	TN-IPC
Florida	UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants	Moderate Risk/Evaluate, north, central, south; assessment complete	Moderate Risk/Evaluate; assessment incomplete	Pages updated Oct. 19, 2026 and Nov. 7, 2025	UF/IFAS; UF/IFAS
Florida	UF/IFAS fact sheets FPS-350, FPS-349 (rev. Oct. 2023)	“Invasive and not recommended by UF/IFAS faculty”	“Not known to be invasive” (‘Variegata’)	Current editions	FPS-350; FPS-349
United States	USDA PLANTS Database	Introduced, lower 48; no noxious or invasive status	No species profile found	Checked Oct. 2026	USDA PLANTS

To tell which one you have, look at the habit. University of Arkansas Extension says L. muscari makes a clump that gets bigger each year, while L. spicata “is a runner which produces lots of small plants, but no large clumps,” and that a 20-year-old planting of the runner would have blanketed the yard (UAEX). Runner leaves are also narrower, about 1/4 in.

If you keep L. spicata, contain it. UF/IFAS and NC State both suggest a bed surrounded by hardscape or an edging or root barrier 18 inches deep (FPS-350; NC State). For new plantings, NC State lists three native sedges as alternatives: Carex cherokeensis, Carex grayi and Carex laxiculmis (NC State).

Where will monkey grass grow, and does it come back every year?

Liriope muscari is rated for USDA zones 5 to 10 and Liriope spicata for zones 4 to 10 by NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden, so both return every year across most of the lower 48. Both are evergreen in the South, but MBG says L. muscari foliage “declines considerably” in cold-winter areas such as St. Louis, which is one reason to cut it back each winter.

Source	Liriope muscari	Liriope spicata	Mondo grass
NC State Extension	5a to 10b	4a to 10b	6a to 10b
Missouri Botanical Garden	5 to 10	4 to 10	7 to 10
UF/IFAS EP600; FPS-350	6 to 10	6 through 10	Not rated
Morton Arboretum	Not rated	4 to 10	Not rated

Light sets growth rate more than survival. NC State rates liriope from full sun to deep shade (under 2 hours of direct sun) but says growth in near-full shade is slow, with elongated leaves (NC State). Clemson HGIC 1108 says flowers are produced most freely in sun.

Hot, full sun is the limit in the Deep South: UF/IFAS says ‘Variegata’ and L. spicata can yellow and melt out in full sun (FPS-349; FPS-350). ‘Evergreen Giant’ prefers sun (EP600) but browns at the tips in the hottest areas (FPS-348).

Soil should be acidic to neutral and well drained; NC State gives a pH under 6.0 to 8.0 (NC State), and Clemson says liriope “will not take wet feet.” A lab test confirms pH before planting a long border, and our soil test guide lists what the reports include.

Which monkey grass variety should you plant?

Choose by height, leaf color and sun. Clemson’s HGIC 1108 lists ‘Big Blue’ at 12 to 15 in with less tendency to spread by stolons, ‘Evergreen Giant’ at 18 to 24 in, and ‘Silvery Sunproof’ as the variegated form that withstands sun best. For a running groundcover, ‘Silver Dragon’ is a variegated L. spicata that reaches 12 to 16 in (Clemson).

Cultivar	Species	Mature height	Leaf	Flower	Note	Source
‘Big Blue’	L. muscari	12 to 15 in	Green	Lavender	Less tendency to spread by stolons; MBG gives 1 to 2 ft	Clemson; MBG
‘Variegata’	L. muscari	10 to 15 in	White to yellow edges	Lavender	Can melt out in heat (UF/IFAS)	Clemson; FPS-349
‘Silvery Sunproof’	L. muscari	12 to 15 in	Striped white and yellow	Purple	Takes sun better than most variegated forms	Clemson
‘Evergreen Giant’	L. muscari	18 to 24 in	Stiff, green	White (Clemson); lilac purple (UF/IFAS)	Especially susceptible to crown rot	Clemson; EP600
‘Monroe’s White’	L. muscari	12 to 15 in	Green	White	Best in shade; slower growth	Clemson
‘Royal Purple’	L. muscari	12 to 15 in	Green	Deep purple	None listed	Clemson
‘Webster Wideleaf’	L. muscari	12 to 15 in	Widest leaf of any cultivar	Lavender	None listed	Clemson
‘Emerald Goddess’	L. muscari	16 to 20 in	Green	Lavender	None listed	Clemson
‘Samantha’	L. muscari	12 to 15 in	Green	Pink	None listed	Clemson
‘Super Blue’	L. muscari (seller listing)	Up to 20 in	Blue-green	Violet	Seller calls it more sun tolerant; up to 20 in	Plants by Mail
‘Silver Dragon’	L. spicata	12 to 16 in	Green and white	Lavender	Less dense than most lilyturf	Clemson
‘Franklin Mint’	L. spicata	12 to 15 in	Green	Pale lavender	None listed	Clemson

1. Big Blue12
2. Variegata10
3. Silvery Sunproof12
4. Evergreen Giant18
5. Monroe's White12
6. Royal Purple12
7. Webster Wideleaf12
8. Emerald Goddess16
9. Samantha12
10. Silver Dragon12
11. Franklin Mint12

Source: Clemson HGIC 1108 (updated Aug. 19, 2019); accessed Oct. 2026 Foliage height at maturity. 'Super Blue' is omitted because only a seller's single figure (up to 20 in) exists.

Show the numbers

	Low end	High end
Big Blue	12	15
Variegata	10	15
Silvery Sunproof	12	15
Evergreen Giant	18	24
Monroe's White	12	15
Royal Purple	12	15
Webster Wideleaf	12	15
Emerald Goddess	16	20
Samantha	12	15
Silver Dragon	12	16
Franklin Mint	12	15

Flower spikes add a few inches to these foliage heights. Sources split on ‘Evergreen Giant’ flower color, white per Clemson and NC State and lilac purple per UF/IFAS FPS-348, so check the tag if color matters.

How far apart should you plant monkey grass for a border?

Plant clumping monkey grass about 12 in apart for an edge: Clemson says about 1 ft, and UF/IFAS gives 12 to 18 in for ‘Variegata’ and 18 to 24 in for ‘Evergreen Giant’. A single row needs one plant per foot at 12 in spacing, plus one for the end. Creeping L. spicata goes 6 to 12 in apart (UF/IFAS FPS-350).

Spacing on center	Plants per linear ft (1 row)	Plants for a 50 ft row	Plants per 100 sq ft (square grid)	Who gives this spacing
6 in	2	101	400	L. spicata, low end (FPS-350)
8 in	1.5	76	225	Not a published spacing; shown for dense edging
12 in	1	51	100	Clemson; FPS-349 low end; FPS-350 high end
15 in	0.8	41	64	Not a published spacing; midpoint
18 in	0.67	34	45	FPS-349 high end; ‘Evergreen Giant’ centers (FPS-348)
24 in	0.5	26	25	‘Evergreen Giant’ high end (FPS-348)

1. 6 in400
2. 8 in225
3. 12 in100
4. 15 in64
5. 18 in45
6. 24 in25

Source: Arithmetic on UF/IFAS FPS-348, FPS-349, FPS-350 and Clemson HGIC 1108 spacings; accessed Oct. 2026 Row = (600 in / spacing) + 1. Area = 14,400 / spacing squared, rounded up. 8 in and 15 in are not published spacings.

Show the numbers

	Per 100 sq ft (square grid)	Per 50 ft single row
6 in	400	101
8 in	225	76
12 in	100	51
15 in	64	41
18 in	45	34
24 in	25	26

Leave a 6 to 12 in buffer, edged or mulched, between the border and the lawn so running grasses such as bermudagrass cannot grow into the row, as University of Arkansas Extension advises (UAEX). Our bermuda grass guide explains why its runners invade beds.

1. Test drainage and pH; NC State lists acidic to neutral soil, and Clemson says liriope will not take wet feet (Clemson).
2. Mark the row 6 to 12 in back from the lawn edge, the UAEX buffer width.
3. Set plants 12 in on center for a standard edge, crowns level with the soil; Clemson warns against planting too deeply.
4. Water to keep the soil moist through the first year, then weekly only in summer droughts (NC State; Clemson).
5. Mulch between plants but keep it off the crowns, which Clemson links to crown rot. Our mulch calculator converts bed size to cubic yards.
6. Feed lightly in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer, scattered so granules do not lodge between leaves (NC State; Clemson).

Worked example: a 50 ft border along one side of a walk, one row at 12 in on center, takes 600 / 12 + 1 = 51 plants. The table below prices that row at the Oct. 29, 2026 listings.

Scenario	Plants	Pot	Price per plant	Plant cost before shipping and tax
50 ft border, 1 row, 12 in	51	3-inch pots, 54-pack	$2.80	$150.99 (one 54-pack; 3 spares)
50 ft border, 1 row, 12 in	51	4-inch pot	$3.99	$203.49
50 ft border, 1 row, 12 in	51	1-gallon pot	$12.99 to $21.95	$662.49 to $1,119.45
Same row, contractor-installed	51	1-gallon pot	$14 to $34 installed	$714 to $1,734
100 sq ft of L. spicata, 12 in grid	100	4-inch pot	$3.99	$399.00
100 sq ft of L. muscari, 18 in grid	45	1-gallon pot	$12.99 to $21.95	$584.55 to $987.75

Border length (linear ft)Pot size and price (per plant, Oct. 29, 2026)3-inch pots in 54- or 18-packs ($2.80 to $2.94 each)4-inch pot ($3.99 to $7.99 each)2.5-quart pot ($17.98 to $17.99 each)1-gallon pot ($12.99 to $21.95 each)Spacing on center12 in (Clemson; UF/IFAS low end)18 in (UF/IFAS 'Variegata' high end)6 in (L. spicata low end, FPS-350)8 in (dense edge)24 in ('Evergreen Giant' high end)Rows1 row2 offset rows

Plants needed (before end plants)

50

Estimated plant cost before shipping$140 to $145

Plants = length x 12 / spacing in inches x rows, rounded up; add 1 plant per row for the end plant. Prices are the low and high online listings in this guide, before shipping and tax.

How much does monkey grass cost?

On Oct. 29, 2026, monkey grass listed at $2.80 per plant in a 54-pack of 3-inch pots, $3.99 to $7.99 for a 4-inch pot, about $18 for a 2.5-quart pot and $12.99 to $21.95 for a 1-gallon pot across five online sellers, before shipping and tax. Pot size moves the price far more than the cultivar does.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Seller	Plant	Size	Listed price	Per plant	Source
Plants by Mail	‘Big Blue’, ‘Variegated’, ‘Super Blue’	54-pack, 3-inch pots	$150.99	$2.80	listing
Plants by Mail	‘Big Blue’, ‘Variegated’, ‘Super Blue’	18-pack, 3-inch pots	$52.99	$2.94	listing
Pike Nursery	‘Big Blue’	4-inch pot	$3.99	$3.99	listing
Pike Nursery	Creeping liriope (L. spicata)	4-inch pot	$3.99	$3.99	listing
Eureka Farms	‘Big Blue’ (sale; listed $9.99)	4-inch pot	$7.99	$7.99	listing
Plants by Mail	‘Variegated’, ‘Super Blue’	2.5-quart pot	$17.98	$17.98	listing
Plants by Mail	‘Big Blue’	2.5-quart pot	$17.99	$17.99	listing
Pike Nursery	‘Big Blue’	1-gallon pot	$12.99	$12.99	listing
Eureka Farms	‘Big Blue’, 12-pack	1-gallon pots	$169.00	$14.08	listing
Eureka Farms	‘Big Blue’ (sale; listed $19.99)	1-gallon pot	$16.99	$16.99	listing
PlantingTree	‘Variegated’	1-gallon pot	$17.95	$17.95	listing
Trees.com	‘Variegata’ (sale; listed $27.95)	1-gallon pot	$17.95	$17.95	listing
PlantingTree	‘Big Blue’	1-gallon pot	$21.95	$21.95	listing
Plants by Mail	Mondo grass, dwarf mondo grass	2.5-quart pot	$17.96	$17.96	listing
Plants by Mail	Mondo grass, dwarf mondo grass	18-pack, 3-inch pots	$52.99	$2.94	listing

1. 3-inch pot (in packs)2.80
2. 4-inch pot3.99
3. 2.5-quart pot17.98
4. 1-gallon pot12.99

Source: Plants by Mail, Pike Nursery, Eureka Farms, PlantingTree, Trees.com listings, Oct. 29, 2026 Before shipping and tax. 3-inch prices are pack prices divided by plant count (54 and 18). Excludes the 12-pack 1-gallon bundle ($14.08 each).

Show the numbers

	Low	High
3-inch pot (in packs)	2.80	2.94
4-inch pot	3.99	7.99
2.5-quart pot	17.98	17.99
1-gallon pot	12.99	21.95

Three things move the bill. Pot size: a 3-inch plug in a 54-pack costs $2.80, a 1-gallon pot up to $21.95, about 7.8 times as much. Bulk: Eureka Farms’ 12-pack brings a 1-gallon ‘Big Blue’ from $16.99 to $14.08. Labor: our landscaping cost model puts installed 1-gallon plants at $14 to $34 each.

When and how do you cut back monkey grass?

Cut monkey grass back once a year in late winter, before new leaves emerge: late January on the South Carolina coast and by mid-February upstate (Clemson HGIC 1108), February in North Carolina (NC State) and late February in Arkansas (UAEX). Use a mower at its highest setting with sharp blades, and keep the blade above the crowns.

Region	When	How low or how	Source
Coastal South Carolina	Late January	Mower at highest cutting height; about 3 in where anthracnose is present	Clemson HGIC 1108
Upstate South Carolina	By mid-February	Same	Clemson HGIC 1108
North Carolina	Each February, before new growth	Cut back the tops	NC State
Arkansas	Late February, before new growth	Almost to the soil line	UAEX
Missouri	Late winter to early spring	To the ground; mow large plots on a high mower setting	MBG
Florida	Each spring, before new growth	Mow the bed	UF/IFAS FPS-350

1. Check the crowns for new shoots. If they are already up, trim old leaves by hand around them instead of mowing (UAEX).
2. Sharpen the mower blade and set the deck to its highest position (Clemson). Our blade sharpening guide covers the bevel and balance check.
3. Mow or shear the old foliage; on a narrow edging row, hand shears or a string trimmer held level do the same job.
4. Rake out and bag the clippings. Clemson says the anthracnose fungus overwinters in dead foliage and that cleanup helps control scale.
5. If scale was present, spray a 2 percent horticultural oil, 5 tablespoons per gallon of water, after pruning (Clemson); NC State advises two treatments two weeks apart for fern scale (NC State).

Cutting late clips the new leaf tips for the whole summer (FPS-350; UAEX); cutting in fall can lead to winter damage, and skipping the cut leaves plants “bedraggled all season” (UAEX).

What problems does monkey grass get?

Leaf and crown rot is the serious one: Phytophthora palmivora yellows leaves from the base, and UF/IFAS and Clemson say fungicides only slow it because they leach from soil within weeks. Anthracnose causes reddish-brown leaf-tip spots after wet weather, and fern scale leaves yellow spots. ‘Evergreen Giant’ is especially susceptible to crown rot (UF/IFAS EP600; LSU AgCenter Pub. 3189).

Problem	Cause	What you see	When	What to do	Source
Leaf and crown rot	Phytophthora palmivora (water mold)	Leaves yellow from the base; base turns brown and watery; leaves pull free	Late spring to early fall; worst in standing water	Remove and discard plants; mefenoxam, fosetyl-Al and phosphites only suppress it, often for 4 to 6 weeks	UF/IFAS EP600; LSU 3189
Anthracnose	Colletotrichum species (fungus)	Reddish-brown spots on leaf tips and margins	After rain or overhead watering; leaves wet 4 to 6 hours	Cut to about 3 in in late winter, remove debris, stop overhead and late-day watering	UF/IFAS EP600; Clemson
Root rots	Fusarium, Rhizoctonia solani	Lower leaves die first; plant declines from the bottom up	Wet, warm soil; plants set too deep	Raise or drain the bed; cut irrigation in rainy periods	UF/IFAS EP600
Southern blight	Sclerotium rolfsii (fungus)	Wilt; soft brown rot at the soil line; white threads with tiny sclerotia	Spreads in water, soil and on tools; survives in soil indefinitely	Remove plants; clean tools; fungicides prevent but do not cure	UF/IFAS EP600
Scale	Six scale species; fern scale (Pinnaspis aspidistrae) and proteus scale most common	Yellow or reddish spots; white male armor on leaves	Crawlers hatch in spring and summer	Cut back and clean up; 2% horticultural oil, two sprays two weeks apart	Clemson; NC State
Root-knot nematodes	Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne)	Yellowing, thin plants; galled roots	Sandy soils	No chemical control on existing plants; replace soil when replanting	UF/IFAS EP600
Slugs and snails	Mollusks	Ragged holes in leaves	Damp, shady beds	Monitor; no serious threat listed	NC State; MBG

Most of these start with water: LSU AgCenter says crown rot is worst where water stands and is favored by overcrowding and deep planting (Pub. 3189). For a diagnosis, NC State directs readers to their county Extension center (NC State).

How do you get rid of monkey grass?

Removing creeping monkey grass takes digging plus follow-up sprays over more than one season. University of Arkansas Extension advises tilling or digging out the crowns, waiting for regrowth, spraying the young growth with glyphosate, then spraying again 2 weeks later and repeating as needed (UAEX).

1. Confirm the species: runners with no large clumps point to L. spicata (UAEX).
2. Cut the tops, then till or dig the bed and pull out crowns and roots with a heavy lawn rake (UAEX).
3. Wait for new shoots to appear.
4. Spot-spray the regrowth with a glyphosate product such as Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus (EPA Reg. No. 71995-29: glyphosate 18 percent, diquat 0.73 percent), shielding nearby plants as its label directs (EPA label, April 2022).
5. Wait 2 weeks and spray again; repeat through the season (UAEX).
6. Replant: the 71995-29 label allows ornamental flowers, trees and shrubs 1 day after application and lawn grasses 3 days after.

Method	What it kills	Follow-up	Source
Dig or till, rake out crowns	Crowns and most roots; fragments resprout	Repeat as shoots appear	UAEX
Glyphosate spot spray (e.g., EPA Reg. No. 71995-29)	Leaves, crowns and roots of any plant it wets	Respray regrowth after 2 weeks; ornamentals replantable 1 day after	EPA label; UAEX
Vinegar or other contact sprays	Green leaves only, not roots or rhizomes	Regrowth expected	UC IPM
Fluazifop grass killer (EPA Reg. No. 239-2620)	Grasses only; label lists lilyturf as tolerant	Use to clean grass out of a bed you are keeping	EPA label

Vinegar is a contact product. UC IPM says contact herbicides, acetic acid among them, burn green leaves but “do not affect the roots or rhizomes” of bermudagrass (UC IPM), and liriope regrows from tuberous roots and rhizomes the same way. Our vinegar weed killer guide covers what those products do kill.

The label is the law: the products named here are examples, not endorsements, and each use must match the current label for your state.

How do you kill grass growing in monkey grass?

Use a grass-only herbicide. The label for Ortho Grass-B-Gon Garden Grass Killer (EPA Reg. No. 239-2620, fluazifop-P-butyl 0.48 percent, accepted Oct. 28, 2024) lists lilyturf among ground covers that are generally tolerant, and calls for 2 applications 7 days apart on established bermudagrass (EPA label). It does not control sedges or broadleaf weeds.

Virginia Tech’s turf program says fluazifop and sethoxydim will not injure non-grass plants “such as liriope, daylily, and hosta” (Virginia Tech). UAEX adds that no broadleaf weed killer is safe over liriope, so pull or hoe broadleaf weeds by hand. Contractors who spray for hire usually need a state license; our applicator license guide lists the rules.

Is monkey grass right for your yard?

Monkey grass fits shaded or mixed-light edges in zones 5 to 10 where nobody walks on it and the soil drains. Pick clumping L. muscari for borders, keep running L. spicata to hardscape-bound beds, and look at native sedges or mondo grass in Georgia, Tennessee or anywhere next to woodland, where state lists flag liriope (GISC; TN-IPC).

If your situation is	Do this	Why (source)
You want a crisp edge along a walk or bed	Plant L. muscari (‘Big Blue’, ‘Variegata’) 12 to 18 in apart	UF/IFAS calls L. spicata unsuitable for edging because it spreads too quickly (FPS-350)
You need to cover a shaded slope inside hardscape or an 18 in barrier	L. spicata at 6 to 12 in	Rhizomes fill fast; contain with an 18 in deep edging (NC State)
The bed is in Georgia or Tennessee, or borders woods	Skip L. spicata; consider Carex cherokeensis, C. grayi or C. laxiculmis	GISC lists both liriopes; TN-IPC lists L. spicata (GISC)
You garden in USDA zone 4	Only L. spicata is rated; weigh its spread first	NC State and MBG rate L. muscari to zone 5 (MBG)
People or dogs walk across it	Use mondo grass or lawn instead	MBG: little tolerance for foot traffic; NC State: mondo resists it (NC State)
Hot full sun in Florida or the Gulf Coast	Avoid ‘Variegata’; use ‘Evergreen Giant’ only where drainage is excellent	FPS-349 melt-out; EP600 crown-rot susceptibility (UF/IFAS)
Wet or poorly drained soil	Plant something else	Clemson: will not take wet feet; crown rot worst where water stands (Clemson)
Dogs or cats graze the yard	L. muscari is acceptable	ASPCA: non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA)

1. 1Is the soil wet or poorly drained?

   YesPlant something else; liriope will not take wet feet and crown rot is worst where water stands (Clemson; LSU AgCenter).

   NoGo to the next question

2. 2Will people or dogs walk across it?

   YesUse mondo grass or lawn; NC State says mondo resists foot traffic, and MBG gives liriope little tolerance.

   NoGo to the next question

3. 3Is the site in Georgia or Tennessee, or next to woodland?

   YesSkip L. spicata; consider native Carex cherokeensis, C. grayi or C. laxiculmis (NC State; GISC; TN-IPC).

   NoGo to the next question

4. 4Is the site in USDA zone 4?

   YesOnly L. spicata is rated; contain it with an 18 in deep barrier or choose another plant (NC State; MBG).

   NoGo to the next question

5. 5Do you want a crisp edge along a walk or bed?

   YesPlant clumping L. muscari ('Big Blue', 'Variegata') 12 to 18 in apart (UF/IFAS FPS-349).

   NoGo to the next question

6. 6Is it a shaded slope bounded by hardscape?

   YesPlant L. spicata 6 to 12 in apart behind an 18 in deep edging (UF/IFAS FPS-350).

   NoPlant L. muscari about 12 in apart and cut it back each late winter (Clemson HGIC 1108).

Source: UF/IFAS, NC State, Clemson, MBG, GISC, TN-IPC; accessed Oct. 2026

For a bare slope, our erosion control guide compares planted cover with mats and riprap. Behind a sunny liriope edge, a fall-blooming grass works; our pink muhly grass guide covers its spacing.

What do popular guides get wrong about monkey grass?

Popular guides often merge the two species and round off the limits. Extension sources show that L. spicata is the invasive one, that mondo grass used as turf gets mowed, that no extension source rates liriope past zone 10, and that the ASPCA lists L. muscari as non-toxic (ASPCA).

Common guide claim	What the primary source says	Source
Monkey grass is one plant	Two Liriope species with different spread, plus Ophiopogon japonicus sold under the same name	UF/IFAS; MBG
All liriopes do well from filtered sun to full shade	NC State rates full sun to deep shade; UF/IFAS says ‘Variegata’ and L. spicata can melt out in hot sun	NC State; FPS-349
Grows in zones 4 to 11	Extension and garden sources stop at zone 10 (NC State 10b; MBG 10; UF/IFAS 10)	NC State; FPS-350
Mondo grass never needs mowing	NC State says mondo used as a shade turf alternative should be mowed yearly	NC State
Monkey grass is toxic to cats and dogs	ASPCA and LSU’s vet school list L. muscari as non-toxic; NC State flags only low-severity caution with no known cases	ASPCA; LSU; NC State
Liriope leaves are up to 1/2 in wide	Sources disagree: about 1 in (NC State, MBG, LSU AgCenter) versus 3/8 to 1/2 in (Clemson)	NC State; Clemson
Plant liriope in fall	UF/IFAS lists container planting year-round in zones 7 to 10	FPS-349

Source type	Count	Examples
Extension and university publications	18	NC State Plant Toolbox, UF/IFAS FPS-348 to 350 and EP600, Clemson HGIC 1108, UAEX, LSU AgCenter P3940 and Pub. 3189, Virginia Tech, UC IPM
Botanical gardens	5	Missouri Botanical Garden (4 records), Morton Arboretum
Invasive lists and databases	6	GISC, TN-IPC, UF/IFAS Assessment (3 species), USDA PLANTS
Pesticide labels	2	EPA Reg. Nos. 239-2620 and 71995-29
Pet toxicity lists	2	ASPCA, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine
Price listings	15 rows	Plants by Mail, Pike Nursery, Eureka Farms, PlantingTree, Trees.com