This study examined the seed bank and vegetation of a restored tidal freshwater marsh located in Washington, D.C. and compared it to an older restored marsh, a natural urban marsh, and a natural non-urban marsh. A study examining the effects of a beaver impoundment on the vegetation and edaphic factors in the natural non-urban reference site was also conducted. The number of seedlings, vegetation cover, taxa density, evenness, and diversity of vegetation were compared among sites in these studies. The restored marshes were more similar to the natural urban wetland than to the natural non-urban wetland with regard to the seed bank and vegetation. Duration of flooding from the beaver impoundment was found to be an important factor affecting vegetation composition at the non-urban reference site. Findings included: urban restoration projects should likely have urban reference sites; and natural disturbances may have similar influences upon both natural and restored systems.