Some may call corals plants. Others may call corals animals. Corals however, are neither distinctly a plant or an animal. They are a combination of both plant and animal life. The corals actually contain small animals called zooxanthellae, which is actually what give the corals their colour. When the zooxanthellae is lacking, the corals start losing their colour and becoming more pale. This is known as coral bleaching.

The plants in a coral reef need to be able to live and grow in their environment. Therefore, coral reef plants are usually many different types of seagrasses, as well as algae. They are a vital part of the coral reef ecosystem, and without playing their important role coral reefs all over the world would not exist. Coral reef plants are fed on by coral reef animals such as the fish and other small animals. The seagrasses and algae are one of the most important food sources for coral reef animals.

The coral reef plants such as algae are also suggested to allow corals to not be affected negatively so much by stresses such as changes in climate. This is great for the coral reef biome as it allows them a greater and healthier life, which is great as their life will not be cut short.