Grass · Poaceae family
Big Quaking Grass
Briza media
In short a 10-second read
Big Quaking Grass (grass) grows to 0.2–0.9 m tall and 0.1–0.5 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 0.1–0.5 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, gravelly, clay
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
cut back by a third (August–September)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–October
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does Big Quaking Grass tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Big Quaking Grass need?
At maturity 0.1–0.5 m wide and 0.2–0.9 m tall; recommended spacing 35 cm.
Does Big Quaking Grass survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (22)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Briza media
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Briza media
- GBIF Vernacular Names API — Briza media
- Wikidata (CC0) — Briza media
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Briza media
- Pladias — Databáza českej flóry a vegetácie
- EPPO Global Database — Briza media
- Pollen.lu — Réseau luxembourgeois de surveillance pollinique
- Allergieinformationsdienst (Helmholtz Munich) — Heuschnupfen: Gräserpollen ako spúšťač alergickej rinitídy
- RHS Plant Finder
- Bamberger Staudengarten (Strobler), katalóg
- Gärtnerei Strickler, katalóg
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow ornamental grasses
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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