• Photo of Briza maxima (Briza maximas)

Plant Profile: Briza maxima

Taxonomy: Briza maxima

Names

Big Quaking Grass, Blowfly Grass, Large Quaking Grass, Quaking Oats, Rattlesnake Grass

  • Photo of Briza maxima (Briza maximas)

Phonetic Spelling:BRIH-za MAKS-ih-mah

Genus:Briza

Species:maxima

Family:Poaceae

This summer grass thrives in well-drained, nutrient-poor soil. Known commercially as Briza major, it is ideal for dried floral arrangements. The plant features airy, overlapping seeds that are scale-like in appearance, displaying a reddish-brown or tan color with hints of green. While it may be mistaken for Briza minor, the latter can be easily identified due to its smaller stature.

Additionally, it is considered invasive in California.

Briza maxima Feature Summary

Briza maxima Image Gallery

Tags

#full sun tolerant
#annual
#ornamental grass
#grass
#summer flowers
#dried
#annual grass
#dried arrangements
#poor soils tolerant

Similar Plants

Briza maxima Feature Summary

Fruit
One fruit may be a covered with a thin pericarp or an utricle with the seed being free.
Caryopsis
Leaves
The two-part leaf has a sheath and a blade, narrow or broad, and the size is variable up to 16 feet long.
Deciduous
Semi-evergreen
Ovate
Linear
Lanceolate
> 6 inches
Good Dried
Good Cut
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Annual
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Deciduous
Semi-evergreen
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Flowers
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Green
Cream/Tan
Landscape

Briza maxima Attributes

Briza maxima: Country Or Region Of Origin

Native to Europe, North & South Africa, and Asia

Briza maxima: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

poor soil

Briza maxima: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Briza maxima: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Briza maxima Fruit

Briza maxima: Fruit Description

One fruit may be a covered with a thin pericarp or an utricle with the seed being free.

Briza maxima: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Briza maxima Leaves

Briza maxima: 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.

Briza maxima: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Briza maxima: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Briza maxima: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Briza maxima: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Briza maxima: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Briza maxima: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Briza maxima: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Briza maxima: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Briza maxima: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Briza maxima: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Briza maxima Whole Plant Traits

Briza maxima: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Briza maxima: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Briza maxima: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Briza maxima: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Briza maxima Cultural Conditions

Briza maxima: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Briza maxima: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Briza maxima Flowers

Briza maxima: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Brown/Copper
filter_vintage
Cream/Tan
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green

Briza maxima: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Briza maxima Stem

Briza maxima: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Briza maxima Landscape

Briza maxima: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Briza maxima: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind