Black gum - red maple basin swamps are a rare wetland type in New England. In New Hampshire, they are primarily found below 1000 ft. elevation in central and southern parts of the state. The tree canopy in the swamps is dominated by red maple (Acer rubrum) and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) trees. There is also a very thick shrub layer with lots of mountain holly, highbush blueberry, and winterberry. The winterberry plants produce bright red berries in fall that provide an excellent food source for birds. The herbaceous plant layer is mostly composed of several trailing evergreen species such as partridgeberry and wintergreen, as well as others such as bunchberry, cinnamon fern, and several sedges. On the ground, a thick layer of peat moss is saturated year-round.

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