Plants of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest

Explore the plants of other plant communities

Introduction

Eastern deciduous forests consist of primarily broad-leaved trees that lose their leaves each autumn. There may be a scattering of evergreens in some locations having poorer soils, such as rock outcroppings and wetlands. Wildflower species include spring ephemerals that typically bloom before the trees begin leafing out each spring. Later blooming wildflowers are generally found at the forest's edge and in openings where sunlight reaches the forest floor.

Individual species have preferences to where they grow. For instance, some species will tend to be found in seasonally flooded forests along the river's edge while others will tend to live in drier upland forests.

Plants of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest
Trees and Shrubs Bur Oak Eastern Cottonwood Silver Maple Staghorn Sumac Sugar Maple	Wildflowers Bloodroot Dutchman's Breeches Hepatica Jack-in-the-Pulpit Large-flowered Bellwort Mayapple Poison Ivy Skunk Cabbage Virginia Waterleaf Wild Geranium Wood Nettle
Invasive Species Common Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard, Exotic Bush Honeysuckle, Siberian Elm

Visit a floodplain forest: Crosby Farm Regional Park
Visit an upland forest: Battle Creek Regional Park