Crossbane Lough is a large, diverse site with a variety of plant communities. There is a gradual transition from the open waters of the lough, through a range of fen communities, to heath. The fen vegetation occurs in small stands amongst rocky outcrops and in shallow basins. Species include bottle sedge, common cottongrass, devil's-bit scabious and marsh violet growing over layers of Sphagnum moss and brown mosses. By the lake shore, floating mats of fen vegetation occur with the uncommon bog-sedge locally frequent.
The open waters of the lough hold a range of aquatic plants, whilst a variable swamp fringe can be found surrounding the lough. Scrub, acid grassland and small pools derived from past peat cutting provide additional habitat diversity.
Notable plants include least bur-reed, yellow-sedge and the bryophytes Calliergon cordifolium, Calliergon stramineum and Sphagnum squarrosum. The site also supports a diverse invertebrate community with several notable species present, such as Velia saulii, a water cricket found on the edges of lakes.
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