Planting Methods and Care Tips for Dwarf Lilyturf

Dwarf lilyturf (Ophiopogon japonicus) is a new and superior groundcover plant recently promoted for cultivation by Chinese landscaping departments. It is a perennial evergreen herb in the Liliaceae family, grown for its foliage in spring, autumn and winter, and enjoyed for its flowers in summer. Because the plant is short, it can also be grown in pots for ornamental display. Its tuberous roots are used in medicine and have the effects of moistening the lungs to stop coughing and benefiting the stomach to promote fluid production. Dwarf lilyturf grows in clumps with rhizomes, and spindle-shaped tuberous roots form at the ends of its fibrous roots. The leaves are linear, 10 to 15 cm long; the flower stalks emerge from the leaf clusters, and the raceme is loose and spike-like, with bisexual flowers and 6 tepals. When the flowers first open they are pale purplish red, gradually turning white, and planting them under trees is truly spectacular. The flowering period is July to August, and the fruiting period is September to October. It is native to northern and northwestern China, and is also distributed in Japan and Vietnam. It is cold-resistant and drought-tolerant, and prefers a semi-shaded environment. It is not demanding about soil, and grows well in both garden soil and sandy loam, and can overwinter outdoors in northern China.

Propagation is by sowing or division. Sowing is usually done indoors in pots in spring, and the sowing soil must be kept fully moist. Division can be done in spring or summer. For use as groundcover, a plant spacing of 10 x 10 cm is appropriate. Before planting, level the ground and apply an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer, such as dried night soil, chicken manure, sesame paste residue, etc. During the peak growing season, apply a compound fertilizer once every half month, but the amount must not be too much, otherwise it is easy to burn the rhizomes and leaves. After the seeds mature, harvest them promptly, dry them in the sun, and store them in a freezer at 0°C-5°C, where they can maintain their vitality for a long time.