Beginner
skill rating
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Briza media (Quaking grass)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.3m
Max height
Max height
0.8m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Briza media
Other names
Quaking grass, Cow quake, Didder, Dodder grass, Doddering dillies, Doddle grass, Earthquakes, Jiggle-joggles, Jockey grass, Lady's hair, Maidenhair grass, Pearl grass, Quake grass, Quakers and shakers, Shaking grass, Totter, Wagwants, Briza media f. microstachya
Genus
Briza Briza
Species
B. media - B. media is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial grass with flat, linear, blue-green leaves and, from late spring into summer, erect stems bearing open panicles of nodding, heart-shaped, purple-flushed, green flower spikelets turning straw-coloured when ripe.
Briza media is: Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect
Flower
Green, Flushed purple in Spring; Cream, Green, Flushed purple in Summer
Foliage
Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Resistant to damage by deer.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after seed heads fall apart. Useful for dried flower arrangements. Cut stems for drying in sunny weather when spikelets are fully developed, but before seeds develop.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
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Where to grow
Briza media (Quaking grass) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.8m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grows in most well-drained, fertile soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of conditions. Drought tolerant once established but does not like hot summers.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Briza media
Other names
Quaking grass, Cow quake, Didder, Dodder grass, Doddering dillies, Doddle grass, Earthquakes, Jiggle-joggles, Jockey grass, Lady's hair, Maidenhair grass, Pearl grass, Quake grass, Quakers and shakers, Shaking grass, Totter, Wagwants, Briza media f. microstachya
Genus
Briza Briza
Species
B. media - B. media is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial grass with flat, linear, blue-green leaves and, from late spring into summer, erect stems bearing open panicles of nodding, heart-shaped, purple-flushed, green flower spikelets turning straw-coloured when ripe.
Native to
Europe, Great Britain, Southern China, Western Asia
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect
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Colour
Flower
Green, Flushed purple in Spring; Cream, Green, Flushed purple in Summer
Foliage
Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Resistant to damage by deer.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after seed heads fall apart. Useful for dried flower arrangements. Cut stems for drying in sunny weather when spikelets are fully developed, but before seeds develop.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Briza media (Quaking grass) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.8m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grows in most well-drained, fertile soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of conditions. Drought tolerant once established but does not like hot summers.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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