Salt Marsh Grasses

Grasses dominate most salt marshes.

Smooth Cord Grass (Spartina alterniflora)

Salt Hay is a common grass of the high marsh

Salt Hay (Spartina patens)

Salt Grass is the other common grass of the high marsh

Salt Grass (Distichilis spicata)

Common Reed or Phragmites is the tallest grass. The reed we see most often is native to the Old World and has become a serious weed.

Common reed - Phragmites australis

External links to more information:

Guide to Plants and Animals in New Hampshire Salt Marshes (NH)

Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

Salt Marsh Cord Grass is the dominant grass in most E. U.S. salt marshes.

Smooth Cord Grass (Spartina alterniflora)

Smooth cord grass roots and ribbed mussels keep the winter waves from eroding the marsh.

Smooth Cord Grass

Phragmites looks nice, but it can be invasive and take over the marsh.

Phragmites

Salt marsh flowers

Salt marsh shrubs