Elements in surface peat and ground water were estimated on seven mire sites in central and north Sweden. The variation in tissue clement concentration was studied in eleven plants occurring on the studied sites. The elements estimated were: N, P, K. Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Al, Cu, Mo, Na, S, B, and Si. The species studied were; Carex diandra, Carex limosa, Carex rostrata, Epilobium palustre, Menyanthes trifoliate, Pedicularis palustris, Rumex acetosa, Saxifraga hirculus, Scirpus hudsonianus, Stellaria crassifolia and Tofteldia pusilla. In surface peat over the range of sites, the variation in total concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus was six and tenfold, respectively. The variation in total concentration of potassium was four‐fold. Extractable concentrations of these three elements showed an even greater variation between sites. Over the range of sites, the variation in tissue element concentration was larger in roots than in above‐ground parls. In above‐ground parts, floral parts varied less in tissue element concentration than did stems and leaves. The largest variation in tissue element concentration was found in Carex rostrata and Menyanthes trifoliata. The smallest variation was found in Saxifraga hirculus. Tissues of the rich fen species Saxifraga hirculus and Stellaria crassifolia had the lowest concentrations of heavy metals. The correlation between substrate element concentration and tissue concentration differed both between tissues and species. Concentrations of N, P and K in tissues of the Carex species were highly correlated with the concentrations of these elements in the substrate, while N, P and K concentrations in tissues of the herbaceous species, especially Saxifraga hirculus. correlated less well.