The plant life of swamps is made up mainly of woody-stemmed plants such as shrubs and trees. Willows, dogwood, alders, and button bush are a few common trees and shrubs. Swamps change from season to season. In the summer and fall the shallow water of the Swamps dries up frequently, where in the winter and spring the floors of the Swamps are either wet and mucky or slick and icy depending on their locations. Swamps, like most Wetlands, provides essential habitat for specific plants and animals.
Swamps also trap water and prevent or reduce damage from flooding.