Tough evergreen perennials, from eastern Asia, which are happy to grow in tricky shady conditions. Foliage, is glossy and narrow, sometimes variegated. Flowering occurs in late summer to autumn, on a separate spike, with small, rounded flowers, often followed by black berries. In Greek mythology, Liriope is a nymph and mother of Narcissus (a hunter and great beauty!).
The dense spikes of flowers attract bees and flies in particular, while the berries are favoured by fruit-eating birds, from blackbirds to pheasants. The foliage can form dense patches and provide shelter for invertebrates and amphibians.