The vegetation of Soqotra can be divided into four main types:

The coastal plains and low inland hills are covered by an open, deciduous shrubland dominated by the endemic shrub Croton Soqotranus with scattered emergent trees (including Euphorbia arbuscula, Dendrosicyos Soqotranus and Zizyphus spina-christi) and low cushion-shrubs beneath. After rain a good cover of grasses and herbs develops. This vegetation formation is probably a plagioclimax developed in response to intensive grazing.

The lower slopes of the mountains, the limestone plateau and the escarpments are covered with open, deciduous shrubland dominated by the endemic shrubs Croton socotranus and Jatropha unicostata. This is much richer in species than the previous formation and is characterised by its podagric emergent trees which include Adenium obesum subsp. socotranum, Dendrosicyos Soqotranus, Sterculia africana var. socotrana, and species of frankincense (Boswellia) and myrrh (Commiphora). This is the most widespread vegetation type on the island and is particularly well-developed on the seaward-facing escarpments. The numerous "bottle-trunked" trees give this formation the bizarre aspect for which the vegetation of Soqotra is famed.

Sub-montane, semi-deciduous thicket develops in sheltered areas on the limestone plateau and on the middle slopes of the granite mountains. It is very species rich and dominated by Rhus thyrsiflora, Buxus hildebrandtii, Carphalea obovata and various Croton spp. etc.

The higher slopes of the granite mountains are covered in a mosaic of dense thicket, low shrubland, grassland and open-rock vegetation on the pinnacles. The thicket is dominated by Rhus thyrsiflora, Cephalocroton Soqotranus, Allophylus rhoidiphyllus with emergent Dracaena cinnabari. It is very dense and forms an almost impenetrable barrier around the base of the granite pinnacles. The thicket merges above into a low shrubland dominated by Hypericum species. On the gentler slopes the vegetation has been cleared to form grassland pastures for cattle. The commonest grasses in this are Themeda quadrivalvis, Apluda mutica, Heteropogon contortus, Dichanthium foveolatum and Arthraxon spp. The open rock faces of the granite pinnacles are covered with lichens and low cushion plants including several endemic Helichrysum spp. and the endemic monotypic genus of Umbelliferae Nirarathamnos asarifolius.