Reineckea carnea - Chinese Lucky Grass

The Reineckea carnea, commonly known as the Chinese Lilyturf or Japanese Lilyturf, is a small perennial ground-covering plant that resembles both Ophiopogons and Lily of the Valley. It is characterized by evergreen foliage of a very fresh green color, as well as a late summer flowering of small light pink star-shaped flowers held on short cherry red stems. It is a cold-resistant plant that needs warm summers to bloom abundantly, especially to produce beautiful bright red berries. The Reineckea carnea is a delicate wonder for slightly shaded areas of the garden. It thrives in partial shade or shade, in a rather rich soil, including under trees and at the base of bushes, where the soil is often very dry in summer. All these qualities earned it the Courson Award in 2005.

The Reineckea carnea (synonyms Sansevieria carnea, AReineckea yunnanensis) belongs to the asparagus or convallariaceae family depending on the classification. This botanical species is native to China and Japan, where it grows in Himalayan forests. The plant has a rhizomatous rootstock, it takes a little time to establish itself and then spreads quite rapidly thanks to its rhizomes. The vegetation rarely exceeds 40 cm (16in) in height. It takes the form of clumps composed of long, narrow, linear leaves resembling those of a grass. Each leaf measures up to 40 cm (16in) long and 0.5 to 3 cm (0 to 1in) wide. The color of the lamina is a light and vivid green throughout the year, even in winter. In case of drought, the leaves may dry out, but the plant regrows from the rootstock as soon as the first rains come. Flowering takes place in September-October: the flower stems form outside the foliage, they are often lower than the vegetation. They are thick and short stems, of a very bright red-pink color, each bearing 3 to 8 small flesh-colored flowers. The flowers have 6 petals fused at the base, opening into stars. Fruiting is random. It takes the form of small round and shiny berries measuring less than 1 cm (0in) in diameter, of a very bright pink-red color.

Plant the Chinese Lilyturf on the edge of woodlands, under deciduous trees, in slightly shaded borders, near a pathway to enjoy the delicacy of its flowering. For example, associate it with small ferns such as Asplenium scolopendrium, Vinca minor (periwinkles), bluebells, perennial Bleeding Hearts or Liriopes that bloom at the same time in shades of mauve. Reineckea carnea can also be grown in pots.