Common Salt Marsh Plants

Phragmites australis (Common Reed)

Spartina alterniflora (Cordgrass)

Very long blade-like leaves with short flower spikes alternating along and often close to the top portion of the stems.

Spartina patens (Saltmarsh Hay)

Leaves are very thin, in-rolled with densely overlapping spikelets borne only on one side of the stem.

Dicstichlis spicata (Spike Grass)

narrow leaves less than 1/8 inch, which grow opposite each other. Looks like V's on the stem.

Scirpus robustus (Saltmarsh Bulrush)

Triangular stems with small "pinecone" like seed pods.

Salicornia europaea (Glasswort)

Atriplex patula (Marsh Orach)

Has fleshy, arrow-shaped, alternate leaves

Iva frutescens (Marsh Elder)

opposite fleshy, lance-shaped toothed leaves, with small greenish white flowers that are not prominent

Aster subulatus (Saltmarsh Aster)

Daisy like flowers. leaves alternate

Solidago sempervirens (Seaside Goldenrod)

Leaves grow along stem. Yellow flowers at top of stem.

Polygon punctatum (Smartweed)