Oak-Pine Barrens Plant List

Graminoids

  • big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
  • fork-tipped three-awned grass (Aristida basiramea)
  • three-awned grass (Aristida purpurascens)
  • wavy hair grass (Avenella flexuosa)
  • Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
  • slender sand sedge (Cyperus lupulinus)
  • poverty grass (Danthonia spicata)
  • panic grasses (Dichanthelium spp.)
  • fall witch grass (Digitaria cognata)
  • purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
  • porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea)
  • June grass (Koeleria macrantha)
  • black oatgrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum)
  • little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Forbs

  • pussytoes (Antennaria howellii and A. parlinii)
  • wormwood (Artemisia campestris)
  • milkweeds (Asclepias amplexicaulis, A. syriaca, A. tuberosa, and A. viridiflora)
  • false foxgloves (Aureolaria flava, a. pedicularia, and A. virginica)
  • harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
  • Hill’s thistle (Cirsium hillii)
  • sand coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
  • common rockrose (Crocanthemum canadense)
  • prairie cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta)
  • flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata)
  • wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
  • woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
  • western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis)
  • hawkweeds (Hieracium kalmii and H. venosum)
  • long-leaved bluets (Houstonia longifolia)
  • false dandelion (Krigia biflora)
  • dwarf dandelion (Krigia virginica)
  • hairy bush-clover (Lespedeza hirta)
  • rough blazing-star (Liatris aspera)
  • cylindrical blazing-star (Liatris cylindracea)
  • northern blazing-star (Liatris scariosa)
  • hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)
  • hairy puccoon (Lithospermum caroliniense)
  • wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
  • wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
  • horse mint (Monarda punctata)
  • blue toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis)
  • prickly-pear (Opuntia humifusa)
  • wood-betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
  • prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa)
  • racemed milkwort (Polygala polygama)
  • jointweed (Polygonella articulata)
  • early buttercup (Ranunculus fascicularis)
  • goldenrods (Solidago caesia, S. hispida, S. juncea, S. nemoralis, and S. speciosa)
  • prairie heart-leaved aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)
  • yellow-pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima)
  • goats-rue (Tephrosia virginiana)
  • birdfoot violet (Viola pedata)

Ferns

  • bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Shrubs

  • serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.)
  • bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
  • New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
  • sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina)
  • hazelnuts (Corylus americana and C. cornuta)
  • huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)
  • American plum (Prunus americana)
  • sand cherry (Prunus pumila)
  • choke cherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • pasture rose (Rosa carolina)
  • northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris)
  • prairie willow (Salix humilis)
  • low sweet blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Trees

  • red maple (Acer rubrum)
  • juneberry (Amelanchier arborea)
  • flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
  • hawthorns (Crataegus spp.)
  • jack pine (Pinus banksiana)
  • red pine (Pinus resinosa)
  • white pine (Pinus strobus  )
  • big-toothed aspen (Populus grandidentata)
  • quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
  • black cherry (Prunus serotina)
  • white oak (Quercus alba)
  • northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)
  • black oak (Quercus velutina)

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 17, 2026).