This small herbaceous perennial has grass-like evergreen foliage and lilac-purple flowers which produce single-seeded berries on a spike in the fall.

[2] It is an understory plant in China, Japan, and Korea occurring in shady forests at elevations of 330–4,600 ft (101–1,402 m).

[4] Clumps slowly expand by short stolons to a width of about 30 cm (12 in), but plants do not spread aggressively.

Flowers resemble those of grape hyacinth (Muscari), which is the origin of the specific epithet.

Distinguishing species in the genus Liriope is difficult at best, and mistaken identity occurs in commercial nurseries.

Landscape uses include borders (along sidewalks, trails, driveways, shrubbery, and trees) and mass plantings as groundcover.

In the United Kingdom Liriope muscari has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

[6][7] The species is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

It might be grown in zone 5 in sheltered locations or if protected during severe winter weather.

In addition, seeds have a morphological dormancy because the embryo is not fully developed when the fruit ripens; a period of warm stratification is required to complete maturation.

Cleaned seeds can be sown outdoors after the fruit ripens in early fall, recognizing that germination will be slow the following spring.

[9] Stratified seeds can be started indoors or in a heated greenhouse during the dormant season or they may be sown outdoors after the threat of frost has passed.

Scale insects have been reported to cause unsightly reddish spots on leaves during late summer.