Climbing plants are characterized by long wide vessel elements which may be vulnerable to cold- or drought-induced embolism. However the difference in vulnerability between lianas (woody climbing plants) and vines (herbaceous climbing plants) has not yet been reported. Here we hypothesize that both lianas and vines are more sensitive to variations in water and temperature than are self-supporting plants. Consequently the proportions of lianas and vines in flora are expected to decline significantly along geographical and environmental gradients.\n\nLocation China.\n\nMethods A unique dataset describing 82 floras in China was examined. The proportion of lianas in the flora (LPF) and the proportion of vines in the flora (VPF) were calculated independently. The proportion of the climbing plants in total spermatophyte flora (CPF) was also calculated. LPF and VPF were compared along latitudinal mean annual rainfall (Rain) and mean January temperature (T1) gradients. Local linear regression analyses showed the changing tendencies of LPF and VPF. Prediction models of LPF using geographical and environmental factors were studied in some subranges.\n\nResults (1) LPF was highest in the tropics (13.8% on average) decreased linearly with increasing latitude within the latitude < 42 °N subrange and reached < 1% north of 42 °N in China. VPF fluctuated slightly from tropical (4.7%) to subtropical (4.2%) to warm temperate (4.5%) regions but declined significantly in temperate (3.2%) and dry (1.5%) zones in China. (2) LPF decreased significantly with decreasing rainfall and decreased significantly with decreasing T1 in areas where T1 > -10 °C. In contrast VPF tended to be constant in areas where T1 > -5 °C or Rain > 1000 mm and declined under extreme water or temperature stresses. (3) Predictions of LPF using Rain and T1 in areas where T1 > -10 °C and using latitude and altitude within the latitude < 42 °N subrange were both reliable. According to the geographical model for LPF and a constant VPF tropical Asian forests would have a LPF as high as 25.4% and the highest CPF would be c. 30%.\n\nConclusions We conclude that liana diversity is more sensitive to temperature and water availability than that of vines and other plants. Geographical and environmental gradients affected LPF but not VPF. Shorter life spans and underground nutrient storage may be effective strategies adopted by vines to avoid drought and cold stresses.