Unlocking Typha: How to Boost Fibre Production to Create Sustainable Textiles
- Douglas Hobbs
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
A summary of the excellent webinar presented by Islam Abdel-Aziz, exploring how to increase Typha latifolia seed‑head production to boost fibre yields.
A copy of the slides used in this webinar can be downloaded as a PDF here>>
To make wetlands work for farmers and the climate, we need wet‑grown crops that are productive, reliable, and simple to manage. The latest ADAS trials with Typha latifolia (common cattail) explore how planting density, depth, rhizome maturity, and integrated pest management influence the production and quality of seed heads—the part of the plant that can drive fibre and other high‑value products.
Why seed heads matter for a wetter farming future
Paludiculture offers a way to keep carbon in the ground while still producing useful biomass. There is much interest in Typha as an insulation fibre, but there are also several niche opportunities, from baked goods and traditional remedies to pollinator feeds and even oilseed potential. However, the commercial case strengthens when we can consistently produce lots of good‑quality seed heads—not just leaves and stems.
The goal of the project was to increase the proportion and performance of generative shoots (the flowering shoots that form seed heads) and understand the field‑level levers we can pull to get there.
Project aims:
Can we increase seed‑head size or count by changing planting density?
Does planting depth (a proxy for water table/soil saturation) alter generative/vegetative balance?
How important is rhizome maturity—i.e., carbohydrate reserves—in triggering flowering at the right time?
The trials:
Replicated container trials using Typha rhizomes sourced from the same batch, were planted in a peat‑free aquatic mix. Treatments combined two densities (30 vs 100 rhizomes/m²) with three planting depths:
Surface level (control)
2.5 cm below surface
5.0 cm below surface
Irrigation and drainage were controlled to simulate realistic wet conditions. Plants were allowed to senesce over winter (favouring resource translocation to rhizomes and roots), before irrigation resumed in April 2025, with first flowers observed in May 2025. Harvest took place on 22 September 2025.
Year 1 vs Year 2: the benefits of maturity
In Year 1, floral induction did not occur. The likely reason was physiological immaturity, particularly insufficient rhizome carbohydrate reserves before establishment. After a winter rest and spring regrowth, every treatment flowered in Year 2. That shows Typha doesn’t just respond to light and warmth; it also needs healthy, mature rhizomes with enough stored energy to trigger flowering.
Takeaway: The first year of growth allowed the plants to establish and build the rhizome reserves. Expect flowering from Year 2 onwards once plants reach physiological maturity.
Density: bigger heads at lower crowding
Throughout the trial, seed head counts were similar across densities—around 40 seed heads per square metre. However, size varied: the lower-density stands (30 rhizomes/m²) produced larger seed heads (≈ 80 cm³) than the higher-density stands (100 rhizomes/m²) (≈ 65 cm³).
It is likely the result of lower competition, which increases photosynthetic area per plant, resource allocation to reproductive structures, and space for head development, resulting in improved yield even when counts are similar.
Takeaway: If the priority is bigger, better seed heads (for fibre or other uses), a lower planting density is better—even if it doesn’t change the head count.
Planting depth and the water table:
In this trial, planting depth did not produce significant differences in seed‑head number or size. The most plausible explanation is that the range was too narrow to expose meaningful water table effects. Typha tolerates saturated conditions well; a broader hydrological gradient—especially deeper planting or dynamic water‑level regimes—will be required to test this properly.
Takeaway: Don’t over-engineer planting depth within a few centimetres. Focus first on density and rhizome maturity. Explore wider WTD/depth ranges to quantify hydrological effects.
Leaves and early growth: how stands build their capacity
By week 10 of assessment, plants at lower density had more leaves per plant. Anecdotally, we also observed wider leaves at low density and taller early leaves at high density (final heights ended up similar). Wider leaves at lower density could indicate increased photosynthetic capacity — useful for building reserves and supporting flowering.
Takeaway: Lower-density planting can improve the quality of vegetative growth that underpins reproductive success.
Rhizome development:
In low-density plots, Year‑2 rhizomes produced on average 2.5 laterals; high-density stands largely maintained their planted density. Observed differences imply that flowers produced in the current year are borne on parent ramets, and next year’s flowers are likely to come from this year’s vegetative laterals once they reach physiological maturity.
This dynamic is important for planning: aim for a stable ~50:50 generative: vegetative balance, so you don’t over‑flower one year and crash the next (alternate bearing).
Takeaway: Think in two‑year cycles. Support vegetative laterals in the first year to secure next year’s flowering.
Pests and pest management:
In the trial they recorded
Bulrush aphid (Schizaphis scirpi),
Bulrush cosmet moth (Limnaecia phragmitella),
Bulrush wainscot (Nonagria typhae),
Other moth larvae.
Damage to the plants in the trials ranged from fibre protrusion and longitudinal splitting of seed heads to the abortion of heads. In a crop where head integrity drives value, even modest pest loads can translate into significant losses.
Action points for IPM:
Early scouting during head formation: look for subtle protrusions and splits.
Biocontrol, where available (e.g., predatory mites for other systems) adapted cautiously to wetland settings.
Threshold-based interventions to avoid unnecessary treatments.
Sanitation: remove severely damaged heads to reduce larval carryover.
Habitat management: balance biodiversity with crop protection in wetland mosaics.
Takeaway: Protect head integrity with robust, sustainable IPM. It’s essential for turning flowering success into usable fibre.
What this means for growers and project planners
Plan for maturation: Treat Year 1 as a reserve‑building phase; target flowering from Year 2 onward.
Think density first: Use lower densities to secure larger seed heads; don’t expect density alone to change head counts.
Test broader hydrology: If you want to quantify water table effects, trial wider depth/WTD ranges and possibly dynamic water regimes.
Manage for continuity: Aim for a ~50:50 generative: vegetative balance across years to avoid boom‑and‑bust cycles.
Invest in IPM: Scout and act early to prevent malformations and abortions; quality is as important as quantity.
Key numbers at a glance
Planting densities: 30 vs 100 rhizomes/m²
Depths tested: Surface; 2.5 cm; 5.0 cm below surface
Seed‑head numbers: ≈ 40/m² across densities
Seed‑head size: ≈ 80 cm³ (low density) vs 65 cm³ (high density)
Rhizome laterals (Year 2): 2.5 per plant at low density (avg.)
First flowers observed: May 2025
Harvest date: 22 September 2025
The slides from the webinar are available to download as a PDF.
If the link doesn’t work, please copy this URL into your browser:
Comments