Amphibians

The relationship between native plants and amphibians in Maryland is vital for supporting healthy ecosystems, especially in wetlands, vernal pools, ponds, and riparian zones. Amphibians—frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts—depend on specific plant-rich habitats for breeding, cover, food (insects), and water quality. 

Why Native Plants Matter to Amphibians

Habitat and Shelter

Native aquatic and semi-aquatic plants provide:

• Shade to regulate water temperature (critical for eggs and larvae)

• Leaf litter for salamander cover (e.g., red-backed salamanders)

• Dense vegetation like sedges and ferns for frogs to hide from predators

• Submerged plants for egg-laying (e.g., green frogs use water lilies or pondweed)

Breeding and Egg-Laying Sites

Amphibians lay eggs on or near:

• Submerged stems and leaves (Pickerelweed, Pondweed, Water Celery)

• Floating plants like duckweed or watershield (used by tree frogs and toads)

• Moss mats and vernal pool vegetation in deciduous forests (salamanders and wood frogs)

Food Chain Support

Native plants host:

• Insects, spiders, snails → prey for amphibians

• Detritus and algae → supports aquatic invertebrates eaten by tadpoles

• No pesticides → unlike turf and invasive plants, natives are safe zones

🪴 Key Maryland Native Plants Supporting Amphibians

Plant Name Function for Amphibians

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) Breeding shelter, egg laying surface

Arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) Shaded water edges, larval protection

Cattails (Typha latifolia) Dense cover at pond edges

Soft rush (Juncus effusus) Damp ground cover for juvenile toads/frogs

Sedges (Carex spp.) Vernal pool and moist forest habitat

Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) Emerges early, helps define vernal pools

Ferns (e.g., cinnamon, royal) Forest floor cover for terrestrial salamanders

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Shrub cover at pond margins

Water lily (Nymphaea odorata) Shade and egg-laying for frogs

Water celery (Vallisneria americana) Underwater egg attachment and tadpole shelter

Amphibian Species That Rely on Plant-Rich Habitats (MD Examples)

Amphibian Plant Linkage Example

Spring Peeper Breeds in ponds with emergent plants for sound perches

Wood Frog Needs forest litter and vernal pool-edge plants

American Toad Lays eggs in shallow vegetated pools

Eastern Newt Adults rely on forested wetlands and aquatic vegetation

Spotted Salamander Migrates to woodland pools, lays eggs on submerged stems

Green Frog & Bullfrog Depend on dense shoreline plants and submerged beds

Restoration & Garden Application

To support amphibians:

• Plant native wetland plants near ponds, swales, and woodland lowlands.

• Avoid pesticides and fertilizers (toxic to amphibian skin and eggs).

• Build vernal pool gardens or bog-style native rain gardens with:

o Skunk cabbage

o Joe-Pye weed

o Blue flag iris

o Cardinal flower

• Keep fallen logs and leaf litter for salamander cover.

• Maintain native plant buffers around ponds and streams.

Learn More

• Univ. of Maryland Extension – Backyard ponds

• Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – Amphibians Page

• Maryland Biodiversity Project – Amphibians

• Maryland Herpetological Society

• Field Guide: Amphibians and Reptiles of Maryland and the District of Columbia (Richard Orr & Michael Bailey, Maryland DNR)

•  AmphibiaWeb

• Global in scope but includes robust data on Maryland species. Search by genus or common name. Offers ecology, conservation, and photos.

• FrogWatch USA – National Wildlife Federation

•  USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center – Amphibian Monitoring Program