The vegetation of a region is largely determined by its climate type. This can be seen when studying the vegetation of the European continent.



In the frigid zone, such as on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, the climate is too cold for trees to grow. Because of this, the vegetation in these regions consists mainly of tundra. Tundra is a type of treeless vegetation characterized by grasses, shrubs, lichens and mosses. 

Most of Northern Europe is dominated by coniferous forest. Coniferous forest is a vegetation type common to the colder regions of the temperate zone. It is characterized by the presence of coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce. These trees have adapted to the cold winters and brief summers of the northern latitudes. 

Most of Central and Western Europe is located inside the broadleaf forest zone. Broadleaf forest is a vegetation type common to the warmer regions of the temperate zone, where there is enough rainfall and sunlight for the growth of broadleaf trees. However, most of the broadleaf forests that were once found in Central and Western Europe have been cut down and converted to agricultural use. In Eastern Europe, the dry continental climate has resulted in the formation of temperate grassland. 

The Mediterranean region exists inside the subtropical climate zone. The vegetation type of the Mediterranean region is called Mediterranean vegetation. It consists of plants that have adapted to the warm climatic conditions of the area.