Miscanthus Expansion at Frongoch

Miscanthus Expansion at Frongoch

Miscanthus Expansion at Frongoch

01 September 2026

Over the past few weeks, the Miscanthus team at IBERS have been busy preparing seedbeds for the expansion of Miscanthus trials at Frongoch. Four varieties have been established, combining the current commercial standard with new IBERS‑bred material developed in partnership with Terravesta.

To better understand establishment success and early performance, the crops are being planted using three different types of planting material, as outlined below:

Variety

Planting material

Establishment method

Miscanthus × giganteus

Rhizomes

Commercial standard; rhizomes supplied by Natural Capital

Astraea

Rhizomes

Established using rhizome material

Atropos

Overwintered nodal seedling

Seedlings produced from short stem cuttings taken from a parent plant

Aphrodite

Seed-grown plants

Raised in pots from seed prior to field establishment

These trials will support the development of resilient, productive biomass crops and help inform future planting strategies for sustainable farming systems.

The seed‑grown and nodal seedlings have been covered with protective soil compostable mulch film, similar to that used in maize establishment, to aid early growth and improve establishment success.