The Dry Shrub complex has variable species composition, but it is typically dominated by one or more of snowbrush, falsebox, soopollalie, common snowberry, oceanspray, or mallow ninebark. This complex is most common on dry to fresh sites in the IDF and ICH biogeoclimatic zones.

Both height and cover of the Dry Shrub complex vary from site-to-site according to species composition, but it can be as tall as 1-2 m at full development. Interactions between this community and conifer seedlings have not been well-studied, but where abundant, it likely competes for both light and soil moisture. The effects of logging and site preparation on development of this complex are unknown.