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Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon'
Lily Turf
Plant Type:
GRASSES & GRASS-LIKE PLANTSLiriope spicata ‘Silver Dragon’ (syn. ‘Gin-ryu’) (ex: Jonathan Lehrer) – This form sports beautiful white and gray-green variegated leaves, with a marked emphasis on its pure clean white. Blades are narrower, grassier than other L. muscari cultivars. It's variegation is a standout, is clean and holds steady all the growing season long right through fall in USDA zone 5b. It is bright, eye popping and our personal favorite among the variegated cultivars. ‘Silver Dragon’ is hardier, too – well into USDA zone 5. Pale pastel lavender-pink spikes arise late season. Spring planting is strongly advised in the north. Moderately spreading, colonizing. 'Silver Dragon' demonstrates very good anthracnose resistance.It is not only gloriously beautiful but even with so much variegated tissue it is a surprisingly vibrant plant. Though this beauty arrived here orignally with the moniker "Liriope spicata" from the original Heronswood Nursery its designation may be L. muscari. But considering its greater hardiness, it's growing strength and its anthracnose resistance may be it is a distinct species?? What the hell do I know?! If someone has the time and harbors the desire for exploration let me know what you find... I'm just a little overwhelmed by the daily operations at QGN. By any name 'Silver Dragon' really deserves far greater audience - one of our favorite ground covers. We strongly recommend that you read the complete Genus Overview below.
Characteristics and Attributes for Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon'
Season of Interest (Flowering)
- Summer
Season of Interest (Foliage)
- Four Seasons
Autumn Interest
- Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
Nature Attraction
- Deer Resistant
Light
- Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
- Full Sun
Attributes
- Ground Cover
- Border
- Massing
- Drought Tolerant
- Potted Plant
- Edging
- Evergreen
Growth Rate in the Garden
- Moderately Fast
Soil
- Draining
- Fertile
- Moist
Origins
- Garden Origin
Propagated By
- Division
Genus Overview: Liriope
Common Name: Monkey Grass
This is the grass-like Lily Turf; they are, indeed, members of the Liliaceae and despite their appearance are not grasses in the least. Preferring fertile moisture retaining soil they are, nevertheless, drought tolerant and handle heat and humidity well once established. They are adaptable from full sun to open shade but are no doubt happier in more sun at the northern end of their range. When planted in USDA zone 5b they must be sheltered. Spring planting is strongly advised in the north. All of the following selections are pot grown from division.
Liriopes are susceptible to anthracnose - some cultivars more so than others. The new season's foliage will be fine with some spotting showing generally only late season, more noticeable on cultivars which are more prone. There is no cure for anthracnose. Odds are this omnipresent fungus is already in your landscape and will manifest with greater prominence in cooler, damper and wetter seasons and especially later season when temperatures cool and dampness increases. If you are fine with using heavy duty fungicides then these may be modestly helpful but again: there is no cure; these toxic chemicals will have to be re-applied annually and perhaps more than once according to label directives. Please note that fungicides are notoriously toxic to all manner of life, you included. If you desire cultivars with greater anthracnose resistance then search for newer cultivars that have been bred with greater resistance as the goal such as 'Super Blue', 'Cleopatra', 'New Blue' and 'Emerald Goddess' plus all dark green varieties. Or consider this stragegy: enjoy them when clean during the growing season; cut them back in late winter / early spring and rake the severed leaves, collect, bag and throw away.