The journal publishes papers on plant ecology (including algae) in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

In addition, the journal contains a long-running series on the "Biological Flora of the British Isles".

Over 300 accounts (each of a different species) have been published so far, all of which, from 1998 onwards, can be accessed free of charge via the journal's website.

[1] In celebration of the journal's 100th anniversary, a Centenary Symposium was held during the British Ecological Society's Annual Meeting in Sheffield (United Kingdom) in September 2011.

A group of researchers were invited to talk on topics in which the journal has published major contributions over the last century and in which significant progress is currently being made.