Southern Hardwood Swamp Plant List
Graminoids
- sedges (Carex bromoides, C. gracillima, C. intumescens, C. lupulina, C. radiata, C. stipata, and others)
- wood reedgrass (Cinna arundinacea)
- fowl manna grass (Glyceria striata)
- cut grass (Leersia oryzoides)
- fowl meadow grass (Poa palustris)
Forbs
- jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
- beggar-ticks (Bidens spp.)
- false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica)
- marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris)
- spring cresses (Cardamine bulbosa and C. douglassii)
- turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
- golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium americanum)
- enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea canadensis)
- goldthread (Coptis trifolia)
- small yellow lady-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin)
- flat-topped white aster (Doellingeria umbellata)
- willow-herbs (Epilobium spp.)
- jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
- southern blue flag (Iris virginica)
- wood nettle (Laportea canadensis)
- Michigan lily (Lilium michiganense)
- cardinal-flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- northern bugle weed (Lycopus uniflorus)
- tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora)
- Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
- swamp saxifrage (Micranthes pensylvanica)
- bishop’s cap (Mitella diphylla)
- golden ragwort (Packera aurea)
- smartweeds (Persicaria spp.)
- clearweed (Pilea pumila)
- purple fringed orchid (Platanthera psycodes)
- swamp buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus)
- black snakeroots (Sanicula marilandica and S. odorata)
- mad-dog skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
- water-parsnip (Sium suave)
- goldenrods (Solidago patula, S. rugosa, and others)
- calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
- swamp aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)
- skunk-cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
- purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)
Ferns
- maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum)
- wood ferns (Dryopteris spp.)
- sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)
- cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)
- marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris)
Woody Vines
- moonseed (Menispermum canadense)
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
- poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
- riverbank grape (Vitis riparia)
Shrubs
- buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- dogwoods (Cornus amomum and C. foemina)
- winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
- spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
- wild black currant (Ribes americanum)
- prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)
- dwarf raspberry (Rubus pubescens)
- elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
- smooth highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
- nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Trees
- red maple (Acer rubrum)
- silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
- yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
- musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana)
- hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
- black ash (Fraxinus nigra)
- green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
- sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
- cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
- swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
- bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
- pin oak (Quercus palustris)
- basswood (Tilia americana)
- American elm (Ulmus americana)
Citation
Cohen, J.G., M.A. Kost, B.S. Slaughter, D.A. Albert, J.M. Lincoln, A.P. Kortenhoven, C.M. Wilton, H.D. Enander, M.E. Anderson, M.R. Parr, T.J. Bassett, and K.M. Korroch. 2025. Michigan Natural Community Classification [web application]. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State University Extension, Lansing, MI. Available https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/communities/classification. (Accessed: April 11, 2026).