Wet-mesic Sand Prairie Plant List
Graminoids
- ticklegrasses (Agrostis hyemalis and A. scabra)
- big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
- blue-joint (Calamagrostis canadensis)
- sedges (Carex buxbaumii, C. flava, C. leptalea, C. pellita, C. pensylvanica, C. stricta, and others)
- panic grasses (Dichanthelium spp.)
- golden-seeded spike-rush (Eleocharis elliptica)
- fowl manna grass (Glyceria striata)
- blue flags (Iris versicolor and I. virginica)
- rushes (Juncus balticus, J. brachycarpus, J. effusus, J. greenei, J. scirpoides, J. vaseyi, and others)
- switch grass (Panicum virgatum)
- brownish beak-rush (Rhynchospora capitellata)
- little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
- wool-grass (Scirpus cyperinus)
- tall nut-rush (Scleria triglomerata)
- Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
- cordgrass (Spartina pectinata)
- prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
Forbs
- colic root (Aletris farinosa)
- white camas (Anticlea elegans)
- tall green milkweed (Asclepias hirtella)
- harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- bastard-toadflax (Comandra umbellata)
- tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris)
- slender goldentop (Euthamia caroliniana)
- grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)
- wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
- marsh blazing-star (Liatris spicata)
- cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- pale spiked lobelia (Lobelia spicata)
- common water horehound (Lycopus americanus)
- lance-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata)
- wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
- small sundrops (Oenothera perennis)
- balsam ragwort (Packera paupercula)
- water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)
- common mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
- common skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata)
- common blue-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium albidum)
- goldenrods (Solidago gigantea, S. ohioensis, S. riddellii, S. rugosa, and others)
- hyssop hedge nettle (Stachys hyssopifolia)
- bushy aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum)
- long-leaved aster (Symphyotrichum robynsianum)
- purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)
- marsh St. John’s-wort (Triadenum fraseri)
- Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
- lance-leaved violet (Viola lanceolata)
- arrow-leaved violet (Viola sagittata)
Ferns
- marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris)
Shrubs
- tag alder (Alnus incana)
- black chokeberry (Aronia prunifolia)
- leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata)
- dogwoods (Cornus spp.)
- shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)
- Kalm’s St. John’s-wort (Hypericum kalmianum)
- shrubby St. John’s-wort (Hypericum prolificum)
- pasture rose (Rosa carolina)
- dewberries (Rubus spp.)
- willows (Salix spp.)
- meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)
- steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa)
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).