The impact of salinity on coastal peatland vegetation was investigated. Phragmites australis is the most dominant emergent macrophyte in freshwater to mesohaline peatlands. Other common species include Typha latifolia, Carex spp. and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani. P. australis and S. tabernaemontani are resilient to salinity and frequent salinity pulses while Carex sp. and T. latifolia are not. Litter decomposition rates of these macrophytes do not vary in freshwater and oligohaline peatlands.