The Alps, known for their meadows brimming with wildflowers in the spring and summer, are home to many plants that are specialized for glacial growing conditions. Many of these plants are fragrant herbs, some of which have been used to make medicines and liqueurs for centuries. These distinctive, native plants have become an important part of the culture and economy of the mountains. The herbs are part of a landscape that hosts a dynamic, evolving system of plants that scientists are watching shift in real-time.

As glaciers retreat, they expose new land which is readily colonized by plants. "The retreat of glaciers is a double-edged sword," said lead author Gianalberto Losapio in an interview with GlacierHub. "There is an initial increase in biodiversity because the retreating glaciers are making space available. If today there is ice and the glacier is retreating, it means that tomorrow there might be new terrain because the ice is gone, which means that seeds can grow."

At the fringes of a glacier, the soil that is exposed is often not well-suited to hosting plant life. There is often more rocky debris than soil, and the soil that is present is not always rich in the nutrients that plants need. Many native Alpine herbs have carved out a niche for themselves in these proglacial areas. These plants, which survive where others cannot, are called "pioneers" by ecologists. "The initial plants, the pioneers, are adapted to living in this harsh environment," said Losapio.