Briza maxima Seeds (Quaking Grass)

Briza maxima, or Greater Quaking Grass, is a plant that brings both movement and sound to your garden. It hangs its beautiful, oversized, heart-shaped lockets from fine, wiry stems that tremble and dance in the slightest breeze.

It is the sound of a lazy summer afternoon. The seed heads start off a pale, silvery green and slowly ripen to a warm, golden straw colour as the season progresses. It creates a relaxed, "meadow" feel in any border and is an absolute favourite with children, who often call it "Fairy Lanterns."

Why Your Garden Needs Quaking Grass

We consider this an essential "texture plant." While colourful flowers are lovely, it is the grasses that make a garden feel natural and soft. The locket-shaped heads of Briza break up the heaviness of broad leaves and add a sparkle of light when the sun shines through them.

It is also one of the world's best dried flowers. If you cut the stems just as they turn golden and hang them upside down, they last forever. They are perfect for adding that professional, airy touch to winter wreaths and dried bouquets.

Understanding the Plant: What is a Hardy Annual?

Briza maxima is a Hardy Annual.

This means it completes its life cycle in one year (sow, grow, shimmy, die). Because it is "Hardy," it is tough enough to withstand British winters. You can sow it in spring for summer flowers, or—for the biggest, strongest plants—sow it in autumn. The seedlings will sit quietly through winter and burst into growth as soon as spring arrives.

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Grasses are wonderfully unfussy and very satisfying to grow from seed.

🌱 Germination:
You can sow indoors in modules, but Briza actually prefers to be sown directly where it is to flower. Sow in drills about 5mm deep. Unlike many flower seeds which need light, grass seeds like to be lightly covered with soil. Keep the soil moist, and they will appear in 14-21 days.

Where to Sow:
Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It looks fantastic sown in "drifts" (irregular shapes) through a border, or used to edge a raised bed.

Care While Growing:
Once established, it needs very little care. It is naturally drought-tolerant. After it has finished flowering and the seeds have dropped, you can pull up the old straw-coloured plants—but give them a shake over the soil first, and you will likely get free plants next year!

Plant Specifications

Here is a quick reference guide to the key features, helping you decide if this trembling grass is the right fit for your garden.

My Recommended Garden Companions

Briza is the perfect "foil" for meadow-style flowers. To create that effortless "English Country Garden" look, try pairing it with these:

• 💙 Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus): The vivid blue of the cornflowers next to the swaying green lanterns of the Briza is a classic combination. They both thrive in the same soil and flower at exactly the same time.
• ☁️ Ammi majus (Bishop's Flower): Combining the white lace of Ammi with the trembling heads of Briza creates the ultimate white-and-green florist's bouquet right in your border.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow in spring for summer flowers, or in autumn for stronger, earlier plants next year.

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)