briza

( BRIH - zuh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of annual and perennial grasses includes species which need full sun and little water to perform well in the landscape. These plants are commonly called Rattlesnake Grass or Quaking Grass, and have a delicate, graceful form. This grass is native to the Mediterranean, Europe, Africa, and islands in the Atlantic and is often planted for its beautiful and interesting seed heads, which dangle from stems held above the rest of the plant. Dried, these seed heads look like rattlesnake rattles (hence the common name). These grasses will naturalize easily in the garden. Use Briza to add movement and texture to mixed beds and borders, in meadow or natural landscapes, or to create interest in drought-tolerant gardens.

Briza Species and Varietals

The genus Briza is a member of the plant family Poaceae and includes between 10 and 23 species. These grasses are best in USDA hardiness zones 4-11 or Sunset growing zones 1-24. ​To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Briza maxima (Briza major) (Big Quaking Grass, Great Quaking Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Large Quaking Grass, Blowfly Grass, Rattlesnake Grass, Shelly Grass, Rattle Grass, Shell Grass)
Individual plants in this species will grow to reach about 24 inches tall when mature. The species is native to northern Africa, western Asia, and southern Europe. This species is considered invasive in many regions of the world, including California, Australia, and Hawai'i.

Briza media (Quaking-Grass, Common Quaking Grass, Cow-Quake, Didder, Dithering-Grass, Dodder-Grass, Doddering Dillies, Doddle-Grass, Earthquakes, Jiggle-Joggles, Jockey-Grass, Lady's Hair, Maidenhair-Grass, Pearl Grass, Quakers, Quakers-and-Shakers, Shaking Grass, Tottergrass, Wag-Wantons)
This species is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, where it is often found growing in meadows and grasslands. Individual plants can reach up to 2 feet tall, and produce flowers and subsequent seed heads that dangle from branched infloresences. Leaves are dull to mild green in color. This species is considered invasive in several locations, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and the United States (California).

Briza minor (Lesser Quaking-Grass, Little Quakinggrass)
Native to the Mediterranean Basin, this annual species produces narrow clumps of erect foliage. Individual plants reach up to 20 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Flowers and seed heads are borne on branched inflorescences that rise above the foliage clump in spring and summertime. This species is considered invasive in the western United States, specifically in California. 

Caring for briza

Plant Briza, or Quaking Grass, in a space in the landscape that receives full sun to partial shade; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best growth, but do appreciate some afternoon shade in warmer climates. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any point during the growing season. When cooler temperatures set in before winter, these plants will typically die back to the ground. Perennial species will survive as storage roots under the soil surface, and then will re-sprout in springtime. Annual Quaking Grass species can be removed and composted or left in place to enrich the soil. Perennial species can be expected to last for 3-5 years in the garden before needing to be replaced. They will freely re-seed in the landscape, however, allowing them to persist indefinitely.

Propagation

Briza, or Quaking Grass, is best propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Quaking Grass, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Briza by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, and a spray bottle. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. A good potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded, and are typically held above the foliage on thin stems. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Get your container prepared. Water the seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place the seeds about a quarter inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with the spray bottle. Place the tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
  5. Alternatively and more commonly, Briza seeds can be direct-sown into bare areas of the garden, or dispersed over an existing lawn area that is becoming bare. When direct-sowing seeds, make sure to prep the area by removing existing unwanted vegetation and debris, and prepare and level soil by adding some compost over the top. If seeding in a high-traffic area, it is recommended that barriers or caution tape be put up to avoid trampling small seedlings.

Propagating Briza by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in early spring or fall. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Separate the removed patch of grass into sections using a sharp, clean knife or trowel. Ensure that each division has a healthy root system and a few shoots. Any dried out areas with dead roots can be tossed in the compost.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with well-draining soil and compost and rake it in. Water thoroughly, and then place divisions on top.
  4. Keep soil consistently moist as the newly-planted divisions establish strong root systems in their new home. Provide regular waterings, especially during dry spells. It typically takes between 1 and 2 weeks for these grasses to develop their initial shallow root systems, and up to 30-45 days for their deeper roots to form.

Problems and Pests

Briza grasses are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the garden:
  • Root Rot
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:

Gallery

Here, Briza is grown in a container garden alongside other perennials.
This landscape features a small grassland bed that includes Briza.
These plants are beautiful when hit by a breeze, making an audible noise as well when seed heads are present.

Videos

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Resources

Briza media (Quaking Grass)
How to Grow Quaking Grass - Briza
Briza maxima 
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 203, Briza maxima