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Big Quaking Grass Briza maxima

Previously known as:

  • Briza major
Phonetic Spelling
BRIH-za MAKS-ih-mah
Description

This summer grass needs well-drained soil and does best in poor soil. It is good for dried arrangements and is also sold as Briza major. This plant has open, puffy, overlapping, scale-like seeds and is reddish-brown or tan, touched with green.  This plant may be confused with Briza Minor although it is easily distinguishable because Briza Minor is smaller in size. 

Invasive in California

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#ornamental grass#summer flowers#annual grass#dried arrangements#poor soils tolerant#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#ornamental grass#summer flowers#annual grass#dried arrangements#poor soils tolerant#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Briza
    Species:
    maxima
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Native to Europe, North & South Africa, and Asia
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    poor soil
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Caryopsis
    Fruit Description:
    One fruit may be a covered with a thin pericarp or an utricle with the seed being free.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Dried
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The two-part leaf has a sheath and a blade, narrow or broad, and the size is variable up to 16 feet long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Poor Soil