Mature size & growth rate

How big does Big Blue Lilyturf (Liriope muscari 'Big Blue') get?

Also called Lilyturf, Monkey Grass, Border Grass.

More about big blue lilyturf

About Big Blue Lilyturf

Liriope muscari 'Big Blue' · also called Lilyturf, Monkey Grass · houseplant

Big Blue Lilyturf is a clump-forming grass-like perennial with arching dark green strap leaves and violet-blue flower spikes in late summer. Indoors it thrives in bright indirect to medium light with consistent moisture. It contains steroidal saponins and is toxic to dogs and cats.

Mature size: 30-45 cm tall indoors

Watch for — Sluggish growth: Insufficient light is the most common cause. Move to a brighter position out of direct sun.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Big Blue Lilyturf stays fairly low but widens over time — it spreads into a bigger clump by offsets, runners or rhizomes rather than shooting upward. Indoors and in a pot, expect 30-45 cm tall indoors. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

Size here is about width, not height: the plant builds an ever-wider clump or sends out plantlets and runners while staying relatively short.

Growth rate and years to mature

Big Blue Lilyturf is a moderate grower. Realistically, expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Its feeding profile backs this up: feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength during spring and summer. withhold fertiliser from october to february when growth slows.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the big blue lilyturf repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast big blue lilyturf grows.

How to keep big blue lilyturf smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For big blue lilyturf specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Divide the clump every year or two — splitting big blue lilyturf is the main way to control its spread and refresh it.
Remove runners, plantlets or offsets as they appear if you want it to stay a single tight clump.
Keep it slightly pot-bound; a snug pot naturally limits how wide the clump can get.

The keep-it-smaller method, step by step

Lift the whole plant. Slide big blue lilyturf out of its pot in spring when the clump has filled it.
Split the clump. Tease or cut the rootball into two or more sections, each with healthy roots and growth.
Repot one division. Put a single division back in the original pot to reset it to a smaller size; pot or give away the rest.
Remove offsets as they form. Through the year, detach new runners or pups to stop it spreading again.

How to grow big blue lilyturf bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for big blue lilyturf the accelerators are:

Give it a wider pot and let the clump fill it — width is exactly how this plant gets bigger.
Brighter light speeds up clump and offset production noticeably.
Leave plantlets and offsets attached and feed through the growing season for the fastest spread.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The big blue lilyturf light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When big blue lilyturf outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for big blue lilyturf:

The clump bulging over the pot rim or splitting the pot — the cue to divide, not to find a bigger room.
A dense centre that goes bare or tired while the edges keep spreading.
Runners or offsets escaping across the shelf or into neighbouring pots.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the big blue lilyturf repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the big blue lilyturf propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Big Blue Lilyturf size — frequently asked questions

How big does big blue lilyturf get?

Big Blue Lilyturf reaches 30-45 cm tall indoors when grown indoors. Size here is about width, not height: the plant builds an ever-wider clump or sends out plantlets and runners while staying relatively short.

Is big blue lilyturf slow or fast growing?

Big Blue Lilyturf is a moderate grower. Expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Big Blue Lilyturf stays fairly low but widens over time — it spreads into a bigger clump by offsets, runners or rhizomes rather than shooting upward.

How long does big blue lilyturf take to reach full size?

Roughly three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep big blue lilyturf smaller?

Divide the clump every year or two — splitting big blue lilyturf is the main way to control its spread and refresh it. Remove runners, plantlets or offsets as they appear if you want it to stay a single tight clump. Keep it slightly pot-bound; a snug pot naturally limits how wide the clump can get.

How can I make big blue lilyturf grow bigger or faster?

Give it a wider pot and let the clump fill it — width is exactly how this plant gets bigger. Brighter light speeds up clump and offset production noticeably. Leave plantlets and offsets attached and feed through the growing season for the fastest spread.