How can some tundra plants continue producing seeds after freezing during a sudden storm?

In tundra ecosystems, many plants have evolved to be opportunistic, completing their life cycles rapidly during the short growing season. When sudden storms cause these plants to freeze while in flower, they possess the resilience to continue developing and producing seeds once the environment thaws.1

This ability is part of a broader set of adaptations that allow tundra vegetation to thrive despite harsh conditions. Because the window for growth is limited to just two to four months, many species are perennials that flower shortly after snowmelt. Additionally, some plants utilize specialized structures to manage temperature; for example, the hairy flower stalks of species such as cottongrass, lousewort, and willows can retain warm air, raising the temperature near the stalks by 3–9 °C (5–15 °F) to facilitate flowering even when ambient air temperatures approach the freezing point.1