[Lewis Thomson (OP)]

Krzysztof has written to The Naked Scientists to find an answer to this question.

'Why don't plants freeze to death during Winter?'

Discuss your budding thoughts in the comments below...

[paul cotter]

plants that survive very low temperatures have the biologic equivalent of antifreeze in their cells preventing the crystallization of water.

[alancalverd]

And others die (annuals having seeded) or become dormant and desiccated above ground.

[coinblud]

Plant cells survive sub-freezing temperatures by adjusting their solutes, proteins, and membrane lipids in order to withstand desiccation and avoid ice crystal formation.