Northern Wet Meadow Plant List

Graminoids

  • fringed brome (Bromus ciliatus)
  • blue-joint (Calamagrostis canadensis)
  • sedges (Carex lacustris, C. lasiocarpa, C. stricta, C. utriculata, C. vesicaria, and others)
  • twig-rush (Cladium mariscoides)
  • spike-rush (Eleocharis erythropoda and E. palustris)
  • rattlesnake grass (Glyceria canadensis)
  • marsh wild-timothy (Muhlenbergia glomerata)
  • fowl meadow grass (Poa palustris)
  • green bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)

Forbs

  • swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
  • marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides)
  • water-hemlocks (Cicuta bulbifera and C. maculata)
  • swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
  • marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre)
  • flat-topped white aster (Doellingeria umbellata)
  • downy willow-herb (Epilobium strictum)
  • common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
  • grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)
  • joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
  • rough bedstraw (Galium asprellum)
  • bog bedstraw (Galium labradoricum)
  • small bedstraw (Galium trifidum)
  • jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
  • wild blue flag (Iris versicolor)
  • marsh pea (Lathyrus palustris)
  • cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
  • great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
  • common water horehound (Lycopus americanus)
  • northern bugle weed (Lycopus uniflorus)
  • swamp candles (Lysimachia terrestris)
  • tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora)
  • wild mint (Mentha canadensis)
  • water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)
  • great water dock (Rumex orbiculatus)
  • common arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
  • common skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata)
  • tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
  • Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
  • late goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)
  • swamp goldenrod (Solidago patula)
  • rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
  • panicled aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
  • side-flowering aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
  • swamp aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)
  • purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)
  • marsh St. John’s-wort (Triadenum fraseri)
  • broad-leaved cat-tail (Typha latifolia)
  • blue vervain (Verbena hastata)
  • marsh violet (Viola cucullata)

Ferns

  • sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)
  • marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris)

Shrubs

  • tag alder (Alnus incana)
  • bog birch (Betula pumila)
  • red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
  • shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)
  • sweet gale (Myrica gale)
  • willows (Salix spp.)
  • meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)
  • steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa)

Trees

  • red maple (Acer rubrum)
  • tamarack (Larix laricina)
  • white pine (Pinus strobus)
  • balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)
  • quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
  • northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

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 18, 2026).