Grass Specifications
- Season: Perennial
- USDA Zones: 4 - 8
- Height: 20 inches
- Width: 20 inches
- Foliage Color: Green
- Flower Color: At various stages the seed can be colored green, white, or red
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Fall Color: Green-gold
- Soil Requirement: Tolerant of a wide variety of soils - moist to dry, pH 5.5 - 7.5
- Environment: Full sun to partial shade
Planting Directions
- Temperature: 68F
- Average Germ Time: 2 - 3 weeks
- Light Required: Yes
- Depth: Do not cover the seed but tightly press into the earth
- Sowing Rate: 2 - 3 seeds per plant
- Moisture: Keeps seeds moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: 20 inches
- Care & Maintenance: See: Quaking Grass
Quaking Grass (Briza Maxima) - This ornamental grass is an easy to grow perennial that forms dense clumps and bears small heart-shaped florets that emerge an iridescent green from April through June and turn golden with maturity where they look like little fairy lanterns or the end of rattlesnake tails. The seed heads become almost animated when touched by a gentle summer breeze. The delicate flower stems of quaking grass are branched with flowering spikelets that shiver in the breeze, giving the ornamental grass its common name.
It is best to sow Quaking ornamental grass seed either at the end of summer or at the end of spring when there is no chance of frost at a depth of about 1/8”. If starting quaking grass indoors before transplanting then the process should be started about 7 weeks before putting the seedlings outdoor. Germination takes two or three weeks. The seedlings should then be put out after the last chance of any frost in the spring. Quaking grass seedlings should be spaced at about 1 foot and put into a well drained light soil. Or you can do a mass planting and treat the plant as a ground cover. Should be cut back in spring before new growth starts. Quaking ornamental grass is drought tolerant, but still should be watered throughout the summer.The plants tolerates light shade but it might diminish the blooms.
