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Briza media

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Kemper Code:  V350

Common Name: common quaking grass
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: Eurasia
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: -    Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Green
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low


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Plant Culture and Characteristics

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  Uses:       Wildlife:   Flowers:   Leaves:   Fruit:
Hedge Suitable as annual Attracts birds Has showy flowers Leaves colorful Has showy fruit
Shade tree Culinary herb Attracts Has fragrant flowers Leaves fragrant Fruit edible
Street tree Vegetable   hummingbirds Flowers not showy Good fall color   Other:
Flowering tree Water garden plant Attracts Good cut flower Evergreen Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1') Will naturalize   butterflies Good dried flower     Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerant of a wide range of soils. Cut back clumps immediately after seed heads disintegrate to encourage additional foliage growth. Clumps may be mowed on high setting in late fall or dead foliage can be cleared in late winter.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Common quaking grass is a rhizomatous, creeping, warm season ornamental grass which features a clump of narrow, erect, green leaves (1/4 to 1/2" wide) typically growing 12 to 15" tall. Tiny, greenish flowers appear in spring in loose, airy panicles atop stems rising well above the foliage clump to 24-36" tall. Flowers give way to flattened hop-like, purplish-maturing-to-tan seed heads which dangle on thread-like stems and quiver in the slightest breeze, thus giving rise to the common name.

Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.

No serious insect or disease problems but is intolerant of hot summers

Uses:

Best when massed. Effective in borders, cottage gardens, naturalized areas and meadows. May be too weedy for borders.

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