The wave-induced kinematics and dynamics of a submerged or emerged vegetation field is analyzed. Using potential flow and an eigenfunction expansion, the problem is solved considering regular as well as irregular incident waves. The model takes into account the vegetation motion and solves for the complete wave system on the vegetation field and in its vicinity. The model is validated against experimental laboratory data obtained by other authors, showing a much better agreement than previous theoretical models. In this paper the model is used to evaluate wave height evolution (damping), vegetation and fluid motion, and forces and moments on the vegetation. Furthermore, the inclusion of irregular waves provides force and moment distributions on the vegetation field depending on the wave climate statistics. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union