Several shrubs belonging to Solanum, Desmodium and Helicteres species etc. are abundantly found but weedy shrubs like Eupatorium and Lantana now dominate. Because of the dense upper canopy, grass does not grow profusely in Nagarahole, except in the clearings. A peculiar feature of the terrain in Nagarhole is the open grass swamps called Hadlus.

In these swamps the soil is clayey, perennially moist, with a luxuriant growth of green grass throughout the year. These swamps are ideal spots to watch for herds of ungulates. The overall look of the forest, where water is scarce, is open woodland, with patches of grassland in between