Volcanic Cliff Plant List

Graminoids

  • poverty grass (Danthonia spicata)
  • tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)

Forbs

  • yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
  • wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
  • wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)
  • wormwood (Artemisia campestris)
  • low bindweed (Calystegia spithamea)
  • harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
  • fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
  • bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)
  • small blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora)
  • large-leaved aster (Eurybia macrophylla)
  • wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
  • early saxifrage (Micranthes virginiensis)
  • balsam ragwort (Packera paupercula)
  • downy Solomon seal (Polygonatum pubescens)

Ferns

  • maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes)
  • common polypody (Polypodium virginianum)
  • rusty woodsia (Woodsia ilvensis)

Woody Vines

  • poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
  • riverbank grape (Vitis riparia)

Shrubs

  • serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.)
  • bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
  • redstem ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus)
  • bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
  • common juniper (Juniperus communis)
  • ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
  • choke cherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)
  • wild rose (Rosa acicularis)
  • red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
  • soapberry (Shepherdia canadensis)
  • snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)

Trees

  • balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
  • sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
  • mountain maple (Acer spicatum)
  • serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.)
  • yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
  • paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
  • ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)
  • white pine (Pinus strobus)
  • red oak (Quercus rubra)
  • northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
  • 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 20, 2026).