I have the plain 'ol green liriope, and it's tough as nails in sun or shade. The variagated is hard to find around here. I like those deep purple flower spikes, too :0)

I'll have to give them a try. My carex looks like crap. I'm non too pleased with them.

Karen

and I've been struggling to keep mine alive in sun for about 3 years now. I must be on the edge of where this is hardy.

Kevin

Mindy, liriope is a tough plant that does well in our wet, hot climate, where avg rainfall is 55 inches per year. My plain ol' green kind blooms from spring to fall and I think variegated blooms then as well in our area.

One of the large nurseries about 30 miles south of me carries a lot of liriope and uses the slogan is "The Liriope Place." They have added a sideline and a website called "The Liriope Factory." No mailorder, sorry, mxk3.

Doug Young Nursery (dyn) - scroll down to see field of variegated liriope

Initially, I was very disappointed with this variegated liriope. . .until I
discovered that it takes a couple seasons to settle in and really flourish -
now, I can't get enough of it!

And, Karen, you're right about the Carex (I assume you're referring to
"Ice Dance", which looks like a larger version of the variegated Liriope) -
edited back to just on clump, right near a water faucett so it can get the
constant water it seems to demand,

Kevin - I brought my friend in Vermont (z. 4) a clump of my variegated
Lirope, which we tried planting in the midst of three good-sized rocks,
to protect the root zone, in partial shade. . .it's been two years and counting, with one standard Vermont winter (heavy!) and one milder (last year). . .give
it a try!

Carl

Thanks Carl.

When I first received my variegated one via a plant trade, I grew it in a pot and brought it in for winter. I kept it in a cold room (unheated, but above freezing) in a sunny window, quite dry for winter and then back outside in the spring. It grew like a weed and was wonderful. By the way, these do look gorgeous in a large pot. After a few years of doing that, I got tired of hauling it in and put it in the ground and downhill it went.

Kevin

Yup. I bought it. I planted it. I watched it die. It seemed like very fundamental hardiness issues, though it did take a couple of years. Just after the first winter, it never seemed to make it back to where it started out.

Thanks very much Mindy. I love such a strong recommendation.