Monkey Grass — A Plant That Doesn't Monkey Around

 Well-Behaved, Easy-To-Grow, Beautiful in the Landscape

🌱 Plant Talk| by Guy Saldiveri | May 19, 2026

Monkey grass, or liriope, is another prominent, perpetual evergreen that is ever-present in my yard.

It's not actually a grass and is, in fact, a member of the asparagus family. Yeah, that one caught me off guard as well — I would not have guessed that.

It's also one of the more resilient, drought-resistant, well-behaved, and attractive plants in my landscape. I use it for specimen planting, borders, and edging. It works just about anywhere you want to drop it in. And "dropping it in" is all you need to do. Dig up a patch of this stuff, lay it down where you want it, water it in, and walk away. It does the rest all on its own. I swear I don't even have to dig a hole.

Now, that last line about not needing a hole — that’s where this plant gets its bad rap. The problem is that “monkey grass” isn’t one plant. It’s a whole group of them. And the one that causes trouble is the creeping type, Liriope spicata. That’s the one that sneaks under edging, pops up where you didn’t invite it, and earns the whole family a reputation. It's the one that works very well as a groundcover - but only in areas you want it to roam.

What I grow is Liriope muscari, the clumping type — well‑behaved, tidy, and easy to keep in check. It spreads from where it sits, but slowly, and it’s extremely easy to contain. I’ve had clumps in the same spot for years without a single issue. A quick trim with the string trimmer when I mow is all it ever takes. 

Both types are hardy plants and have the ability to adapt and thrive in difficult conditions. As such, monkey grass is a versatile and easy-to-care-for plant. It does very well when planted in-ground or even in containers.

Monkey Grass as a border

As an ornamental, it’s good for creating a low‑maintenance groundcover, edging garden beds and walkways, or controlling erosion on slopes. It handles both sun and shade, and it adds year‑round greenery to any landscape. Growth rate depends on the variety, but most will reach about 12 to 18 inches tall and spread up to 24 inches over several years.

If you're like me, you're wondering just how this plant got its name. I really don't see any resemblance to monkeys, bananas, or even swinging vines. 

If it were ten times its height, I could definitely see it in a jungle though. 

I don't think anybody knows for sure and no one (except nerdy gardeners) knows what a liriope is — but everyone I know knows what monkey grass is. 

Some folks say the dense clumps look like the kind of place a little creature might hide. Others say it “monkeys around” by popping up where you didn’t expect it. And some swear the flower spikes look like tiny monkey tails. In any case, whatever the reason, the name stuck.

Monkey grass is one of those subtle "at-first-glance" ornamentals that look bland and unappealing. It takes a little time to really appreciate this plant. You need to let it go through its growth and get established. Watch it get thick, full, and then put out its spikes of purple flowers that produce glossy berries. It becomes a very appealing plant once you take that good hard look at it. Subtle? Yes. Bland? No. Not by any means. 

As a matter of fact, monkey grass, when in bloom, is a magnet for bees. In late summer through early fall, my plants are filled with so many bees that the humming can be heard from thirty feet away. It provides them with nectar and pollen when other plants aren't flowering. 

If you have an area that needs a little filler — something that doesn't need to be as stunning but will grab attention — consider a few clumps of monkey grass. It just might surprise you how stunning it actually is.

 Happy Gardening 🌱