Oak 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)
  • sedges (Carex bicknellii, C. pensylvanica, C. siccata, and others)
  • 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. tuberosa, A. verticillata, A. viridiflora, and others)
  • false foxgloves (Aureolaria flava, a. pedicularia, and A. virginica)
  • white false indigo (Baptisia lactea)
  • false boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides)
  • bastard-toadflax (Comandra umbellata)
  • sand coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
  • frostweeds (Crocanthemum bicknellii and C. canadense)
  • tick-trefoils (Desmodium spp.)
  • flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata)
  • wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
  • American columbo (Frasera caroliniensis)
  • woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
  • western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis)
  • dwarf dandelion (Krigia virginica)
  • bush-clovers (Lespedeza capitata, L. frutescens, L. hirta, L. violacea, and L. virginica)
  • 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)
  • four-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia)
  • 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. juncea, S. nemoralis, S. rigida, and S. speciosa)
  • asters (Symphyotrichum laeve, S. oolentangiense, and S. pilosum)
  • goats-rue (Tephrosia virginiana)
  • common spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
  • birdfoot violet (Viola pedata)

Ferns

  • bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Shrubs

  • serviceberry (Amelanchier interior)
  • leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
  • bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
  • New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
  • sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina)
  • dogwoods (Cornus spp.)
  • American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
  • huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)
  • American plum (Prunus americana)
  • sand cherry (Prunus pumila)
  • choke cherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • shining sumac (Rhus copallina)
  • pasture rose (Rosa carolina)
  • northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris)
  • prairie willow (Salix humilis)
  • low sweet blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Trees

  • serviceberries (Amelanchier arborea and A. laevis)
  • pignut hickory (Carya glabra)
  • flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
  • hawthorns (Crataegus spp.)
  • black cherry (Prunus serotina)
  • white oak (Quercus alba)
  • northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)
  • dwarf chinquapin oak (Quercus prinoides)
  • black oak (Quercus velutina)
  • sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

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).