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LIRIOPE MUSCARI --- THE RUSSELL STRAIN 
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STOCK IS LIMITED THIS SEASON—ORDER EARLY 
On the back page of our 1947 catalogue, which you now have, you will find a color photograph of a 
new splendid border plant. You will find also plainly stated in big letters, that it will not be offered to 
the general public until 1947. We did not have one-tenth enough plants this season to supply the demand 
but we will have a limited number of excellent stock to offer for delivery in March for the South and 
April and May for the North—to be sure you get yours, without further delay, PLACE YOUR ORDER 
NOW! Only a few of you will be privileged to obtain this splendid plant now, as our stock for this season 
is extremely limited. Place your order immediately if interested. Read what the Horticultural Advisor 
of the Southwest Region of the Garden Club of America has to say about this superbly beautiful new 
“find” on the reverse side of this page. 
JUST WHAT IS LIRIOPE MUSCARI?—This is a very 
fine evergreen herbaceous perennial forming a compact 
plant that does not send out runners or otherwise spread 
beyond its allotted place in the garden. It grows 12 to 15 
inches high, and has disease-proof foliage of the darkest 
green, grass-like in shape and about % inch in width. The 
whole plant presents a very graceful appearance. The 
very double blooms of the variety Majestic are produced 
in spikes that stand up well above the foliage. In color 
they are lilac-pink—a soft, lovely shade that contrasts 
beautifully with the rich dark green leaves. Each plant 
makes a sturdy clump, and when used for edging, as shown 
in the photograph on the front of this folder, the row of 
plants makes a most pleasing effect. 
There are several other species of Liriope—some of 
them called Ophiopogon—but in our opinion Muscari is 
by far the most desirable. No doubt the name Muscari 
was given it because the flower resembles the Muscari or 
Grape Hyacinth. Liriope, of course, is a much larger plant, 
however, with more profuse bloom, and is a perennial 
instead of a bulbous plant. This species is absolutely first- 
rate when used as edging for a garden walk or bed. It 
does not send out runners and usurp the whole garden, as 
some other species do, nor does it become straggly and 
untidy-looking. The clumps grow quickly and are always 
neat and pleasing. 
A particular variety of Liriopi muscari has lately 
become much sought after in the South. It has been found 
in many old Southern gardens, where it was called simply 
“Border Plant.” Nurserymen have bought up many of 
these old plantings for further propagation, and the result 
is that this superb plant is finding its way from secluded 
old gardens of the past into the newest plantings of today. 
It has proved hardy both in the North and in the South. 
The illustrations here show the variety which we grow 
exclusively. We have named it Majestic, because we truly 
feel that it is the best one of all. 
A SUPERB CUT-FLOWER—KEither alone or combined 
with other blooms, Lirope Majestic makes lovely floral 
arrangements. Its long stiff stems, which made the plant 
so distinctive outdoors and raise the blooms well above the 
foliage, are just as useful when the flowers are arranged 
indoors. The stems may be pvlled out from the crown of 
the plant without being cut. They slip out very easily and 
are several inches longer when picked in this way. The 
stems are covered with flowers for 6 or more inches of 
their length; the flat, full florets sometimes spread out 
at the top like a miniature cockscomb. Plants grown in 
the shade bloom just as freely as those in the sun, and 
what is more—the flowers last ten days or more in the 
house. Here in Texas the blooming season begins in May 
and lasts about two months. In the North later bloom is 
to be expected. 
ORIGIN OF LIRIOPE “RUSSELL’S MAJESTIC” — A 
human-interest story lies behind the introduction of this 
special variety of Liriope muscari. Back in 1934 I was 
making one of my regular expeditions around the country- 
side in search of old plants that deserved to be brought 
again to the attention of modern gardeners. I was discuss- 
ing the merits of Liriope with an old nurseryman whom 
I had known for years in Georgia. He told me that he 
knew of a variety growing in a certain old garden that he 
would like me to see. It was something different from 
anything he had seen before, and he felt sure it was a 
sport. Right away we drove over to look at his “find”, 
and I knew immediately that it was something I simply 
had to have. 
It’s bloom was lighter in color and more profuse, and 
the stem longer than any I had seen. The old lady who 
owned the garden told me that she had found a single 
clump in her old border. It had been there for many years 
when she decided to lift it, separate it, and start a new 
bed. Well, I’ve seen plenty of people watch a new oil-well 
being drilled on their property here in Texas, but I doubt 
whether any of them got more of a thrill than I did when 
this good lady told me she wanted me to have her plants! 
She sold me the whole bed outright, saying she wanted 
this lovely Liriope to be grown for the market and hoped 
I would make some money from it. Well, I have. I have 
now grown this variety for several years; wherever the 
plants have been sent for trial—and this includes many 
different parts of the country—they have brought forth 
favorable reports. They have proved themselves hardy 
everywhere. ; 
WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT—Liriope can safely be 
planted at any time of the year, summer or winter, with- 
out any danger of losing the plants. Since they are 
herbaceous evergreen perennials, they have fleshy tuberous 
roots, and may even be dug and left out of the ground 
several days before being transplanted without being 
harmed. 
Usually they bloom the first season but about a year’s 
growth is needed before the plants bloom abundantly. 
From then on, you can expect more and more flowers 
every season. 
In planting a border, space the plants about a foot 
apart. Heavy divisions of uniform size should be chosen, 
with about half the foliage trimmed off. Plants of varying 
size will, of course, produce an irregular border. Remem- 
ber that it takes the plants a little while to become estab- 
lished. Sometimes several weeks are needed before you 
will notice new growth starting from the top. 
After a few years I find it advisable to cut the entire 
plant back in early spring before the new foliage begins 
to grow. By trimming it back to a few inches from the 
ground, new evergreen leaves are encouraged to grow. 
Usually the plants will be in full foliage again in three or 
four weeks. 
(OVER) 
