Reed canary grass is a species indigenous to Europe belonging to the Gramineae family. It is adapted to low temperatures and short growing times. Reed canary grass is a C3 grass which grows to 3 m in height, is propagated by seed and is harvested once a year.

Giant reed

Giant reed is also an indigenous species belonging to the Gramineae family. It is a tall perennial C3 grass which can reach heights of up to 8-9 m. The giant reed tolerates a variety of conditions but prefers well-drained soils. It is propagated by rhizomes rather than seed and the yield can reach 100 t/ha/year under optimum conditions.

All perennial grasses are regarded as drought tolerant, require few inputs and grow on poor land. However, establishment of these crops is not easy and can vary greatly. Yields of biomass can also vary and appear to be related to nitrogen and water availability. Switchgrass requires as much water as traditional crops and is responsive to nitrogen fertilizer but too much usage will give a problem of lodging.