In polar climates, vegetation is limited to hardy plants like shrubs, mosses, and lichens that can survive extreme cold and short growing seasons.

Only certain kinds of vegetation can thrive in the extreme conditions of polar climes. The most prevalent plant species in these areas are shrubs, mosses, and lichens because they are suited to the harsh cold, little sunlight, and brief growing seasons. Large plants and trees find it difficult to thrive in polar regions because of the frozen soil and deficiency of nutrients. In tundra regions, where the ground may stay frozen (permafrost) for the majority of the year, these hardy plants frequently flourish. A distinct ecology, comprising cold-adapted creatures like arctic foxes and polar bears, is supported by this sparse flora.