Dry-mesic Southern Forest Plant List

Graminoids

  • autumn bent (Agrostis perennans)
  • long-awned wood grass (Brachyelytrum erectum)
  • Canada brome (Bromus pubescens)
  • sedges (Carex albursina, C. cephalophora, C. communis, C. digitalis, C. pensylvanica, C. rosea, and others)
  • poverty grass (Danthonia spicata)
  • panic grasses (Dichanthelium spp.)
  • bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix)
  • nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata)
  • cut-leaved rice-grass (Oryzopsis asperifolia)

Forbs

  • doll’s eyes (Actaea pachypoda)
  • tall agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala)
  • hog-peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)
  • wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
  • wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)
  • poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata)
  • false foxglove (Aureolaria spp.)
  • enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea canadensis)
  • wild yam (Dioscorea villosa)
  • large-leaved aster (Eurybia macrophylla)
  • bedstraws (Galium circaezans, G. triflorum, and others)
  • wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
  • round-leaved hepatica (Hepatica americana)
  • pointed-leaf tick-trefoil (Hylodesmum glutinosum)
  • naked-flower tick-trefoil (Hylodesmum nudiflorum)
  • Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
  • false spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum)
  • hairy sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)
  • jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)
  • lopseed (Phryma leptostachya)
  • may apple (Podophyllum peltatum)
  • large-leaved shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica)
  • black snakeroots (Sanicula spp.)
  • bluestem goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
  • elm-leaved goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia)
  • early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)
  • rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)
  • common trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
  • large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
  • merrybells (Uvularia sessilifolia)
  • downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens)

Ferns

  • rattlesnake fern (Botrypus virginianus)
  • bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Woody Vines

  • Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
  • bristly greenbrier (Smilax hispida)
  • poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
  • summer grape (Vitis aestivalis)
  • riverbank grape (Vitis riparia)

Shrubs

  • serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.)
  • gray dogwood (Cornus foemina)
  • American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
  • wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
  • huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)
  • witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
  • choke cherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)
  • common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)
  • black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
  • wild red raspberry (Rubus strigosus)
  • low sweet blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)
  • Canada blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides)
  • hillside blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum)
  • maple-leaved arrow-wood (Viburnum acerifolium)

Trees

  • red maple (Acer rubrum)
  • juneberry (Amelanchier arborea)
  • bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)
  • pignut hickory (Carya glabra)
  • shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)
  • alternate-leaved dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
  • flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
  • white ash (Fraxinus americana)
  • ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)
  • black cherry (Prunus serotina)
  • white oak (Quercus alba)
  • northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)
  • red oak (Quercus rubra)
  • black oak (Quercus velutina)
  • sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
  • basswood (Tilia 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: March 18, 2026).