Liriope muscari (Lilyturf)

Native to eastern Asia, this evergreen herbaceous perennial grows about 1 to 1.5 feet tall and has fleshy, tuberous roots. Dense basal clumps of narrow, arching leaves create a grasslike appearance, although it belongs to the asparagus family. Upright flower stalks bear tightly grouped, small purple blossoms with six floral parts, followed by rounded, shiny black fruits. The species grows naturally in forests, moist shaded places, ravines, and on slopes. Flowering typically occurs in late summer and early autumn, with the fruits persisting into winter. It is used as a groundcover and edging plant, tolerates shade, and withstands drought once established. Photographed in Colombia.