The plant
Miscanthus
Miscanthus giganteus:
The perennial grass that is revolutionizing biomass production Introduction
A single planting, more than twenty years of harvests: that is the promise of Miscanthus giganteus, the leading variety cultivated in France since 2006 for biomass production. This giant grass from the Poaceae family has gained popularity among farmers, local governments, and manufacturers thanks to a rare combination of qualities: low input requirements, consistent yields, low maintenance, and multiple market opportunities.
Since then, Novabiom has been supporting the development of the sector in France, from the establishment of crops to the utilization of biomass.
Novabiom has planted more than 10,000 hectares on farms owned by more than 2,500 farmers:
- Agricultural Consulting and Expertise
- Planting and monitoring of projects (25 planters and 7 agricultural advisors)
- Support for Diversification / Webinar on Market Revitalization
- Proposals for sales tools, bundles, and buyback agreements.
(In France, there are about 320,000 farms, and about 3,000 farmers grow miscanthus, or nearly 1%.)
Novabiom will process and market more than 80,000 m³ of miscanthus in 2026
- Purchase of Wood Chips
- Customer Service and Logistics
- Processing Plants
Novabiom supports numerous projects by local governments and farmers to install boiler systems.
- Advice on structuring local supply chains
- Identifying opportunities with local authorities
- Promotion of ecosystem and environmental services
Novabiom is a partner in numerous research projects:
- Grace: Bio-based Plastics
- MisTigation: The Nitrogen Cycle at the Plant Level (INRAE Estrées Mons), Lessons Learned, and the Development of a Framework for Local Governments
- MisEauVert: Demonstration of the Effect of Miscanthus on Protecting Water Resources in Water Supply and Catchment Areas (INRAE Saclay, Antony, and Estrées Mons)
- Insulation products made from miscanthus
This page answers questions that growers, local governments, and project leaders often ask: What exactly is miscanthus? Why has Miscanthus giganteus become so widely used? How does the plant grow? And what happens to the biomass once it is harvested?
What is miscanthus?
Miscanthus is a botanical genus comprising several species of perennial grasses, sometimes called “elephant grass” in reference to their imposing silhouette. Some species, such as Miscanthus sinensis, are primarily grown as ornamental plants for their clump-forming habit. Others, including Miscanthus giganteus, have been selected for their ability to produce large quantities of biomass.
Miscanthus giganteus: a sterile, non-invasive hybrid
Miscanthus giganteus is the result of a natural cross between Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus. This hybrid is sterile: it does not produce viable seeds and propagates exclusively via rhizomes when planted. As a direct result—unlike some ornamental species sometimes described as invasive—its spread remains strictly limited to the plot where it is planted. This is a common concern for local governments, and the answer is clear-cut.
Miscanthus giganteus is the only species identified as sterile and non-invasive. These two characteristics are essential for agricultural development that poses no environmental risk.
A perennial plant, not an annual crop
Once planted, Miscanthus giganteus regrows every spring thanks to its underground rhizome system and remains productive for more than twenty years. The first two years are spent establishing the root system—the first marketable harvests occur starting in year 2, and full yield is reached starting in year 3.
Why has Miscanthus giganteus become the standard variety?
Three factors explain its gradual adoption by the French agricultural sector:
Yield. Under favorable soil and climate conditions, a mature plot produces between 10 and 20 metric tons of dry matter per hectare per year—a volume that few dedicated biomass crops achieve with so few inputs.
Low-maintenance cultivation. Once established, the plantation requires little intervention: no annual seeding, limited tillage, and reduced fertilization needs, as the plant recycles some of its own nutrients back into the rhizomes in the fall.
Agricultural safety. Because Miscanthus giganteus is sterile, it poses no risk of spreading—a key consideration for local governments and farmers subject to environmental restrictions.
How Does Miscanthus giganteus Grow? The Annual Life Cycle
| Season | What's Going On |
| Spring | The rhizomes produce new shoots as soon as temperatures rise; growth accelerates as the days get longer |
| Summer | The plant reaches its maximum height—stems 3 to 4 meters tall; biomass continues to accumulate |
| Fall | Growth slows down, the leaves turn yellow, and nutrients migrate to the rhizomes to build up reserves for the following year. The miscanthus dries out; this is the senescence phase. |
| End of Winter | Harvest between March and April, when the biomass is naturally at its driest (moisture content below 17%)—a key factor in the quality of the final product |
This harvest schedule is not just a matter of course: harvesting too early negatively affects both the moisture content of the biomass and the vigor of the subsequent regrowth, because the plant has not had time to transfer its reserves to the rhizomes.
A culture that is adaptable, but not universal
Miscanthus giganteus reaches its full potential in deep, well-structured soils with an adequate water supply. It can be grown across much of France, but success in the first year—including site selection, soil preparation, and the quality of rhizome planting—directly determines yields for the following twenty years.
What happens to the miscanthus biomass?
The diversity of applications is one of the main economic advantages of this crop: horticultural mulch, animal bedding, biomass for energy, bio-based materials, and environmental projects (riverbank restoration, phytoremediation, land management).
Each sector has very different needs—that’s what our dedicated page is all about:
Discover all the uses of miscanthus.
Specifically for use as horticultural mulch:
Learn about Novabiom Miscanthus mulch
Why work with Novabiom on miscanthus?
Novabiom, founded in Champhol (28), has spearheaded the development of the miscanthus industry in France since 2006.
Novabiom supports and facilitates the development of local supply chains, such as this flagship project by the CAB (Beauvaisis Urban Community), which has led to the development of an energy transition project and a water resource management project.
Novabiom is a founding member and is deeply involved in the Miscanthus Interprofessional Association (IFM). The missions of France Miscanthus are:
Promoting Miscanthus:
To promote miscanthus, as well as any other biomass or lignocellulosic crop intended for energy production, and for other uses such as horticultural mulch, animal bedding, and bio-based products.
Centralize and disseminate information:
Bring together stakeholders in the sector to promote the exchange of information on miscanthus and its market opportunities, and monitor new applications for bio-based materials (bioplastics, construction materials, etc.).
Represent stakeholders in the sector:
Represent producers in discussions with government authorities, nongovernmental organizations, and other sectors.
Promote sustainable production systems:
Promote environmentally friendly productionmethods and ensure their effective integration into the Common Agricultural Policy.
Integrating the sector into the bioeconomy:
Contributing to the development of miscanthus within the framework of the bioeconomy and the circular economy.
This page provides the basics for understanding what miscanthus is. For more information:
Miscanthus Cultivation
Uses of Miscanthus
The Environmental Benefits of Miscanthus
FAQ
A perennial grass grown to produce biomass (energy, bedding, mulch, insulation materials). Planted just once, it regrows every year—without human intervention or inputs—thanks to its rhizomes, and remains productive for more than twenty years.
"Miscanthus" is a botanical genus comprising several species. Miscanthus giganteus is the hybrid specifically selected and cultivated in France for biomass production. Miscanthus giganteus is sterile and non-invasive.
"Elephant grass" is a common name sometimes used to refer to Miscanthus, in reference to its height. The term should be used with caution: in another context, it also refers to a plant that is unrelated to Miscanthus giganteus, which is cultivated for biomass.
No. It is a sterile hybrid with no viable seeds, which propagates only through rhizomes that are intentionally planted.
Between March and April, when the stalks are naturally dry and their moisture content is less than 17%.
Between 10 and 20 metric tons of dry matter per hectare per year at maturity, under favorable soil and climate conditions. Yields increase gradually from year 2 through year 5, after which they remain relatively stable.
Horticultural mulch, animal bedding, biomass for energy, bio-based materials, and certain environmental applications.
Are you interested in miscanthus?
Contact us for more information.