Common quaking grass (Briza media)

Common quaking grass (Briza media) is a grass plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide.

This plant has several common names including: common quaking grass, cow quake, didder, dithering grass, dodder grass, doddering dillies, doddle grass, earthquakes, jiggle-joggles, jockey grass, lady’s hair, maidenhair grass, pearl grass, quake grass, quakers and shakers, shaking grass, totter or wagwants.

This is a semi-evergreen plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: common quaking grass, cow quake, didder, dithering grass, dodder grass, doddering dillies, doddle grass, earthquakes, jiggle-joggles, jockey grass, lady’s hair, maidenhair grass, pearl grass, quake grass, quakers and shakers, shaking grass, totter, wagwants
Scientific name: Briza media
Plant type: Grasses, Perennials
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden
Planting type: Cut Flowers, Flower borders and bedding

Seasonal colors

How to plant Common quaking grass (Briza media) – Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cultivation profiles – Growing Common quaking grass (Briza media) – Bartosz Cuber, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons