Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin

V. SHRUB SWAMPS

Shrub swamps are wetland plant communities dominated by woody vegetation less than 20 feet in height and with a dbh of less than 6 inches. Shrub swamps of Minnesota and Wisconsin are categorized as shrub-carrs and alder thickets depending on the dominant shrub species. Both occur on organic soils (peat/muck) as well as on the alluvial mineral soils of floodplains.

Shrub swamps provide high value habitat for many songbirds, ruffed grouse, American woodcock and small mammals, and may be particularly important winter habitat for ring-necked pheasant, eastern cottontail, and white-tailed deer.

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