<p>Extreme environmental constraints in the cold deserts of the Trans-Himalayan region, strongly influence plant communities. The present paper evaluates vegetation structure, plant diversity and soil chemical characteristics among four ecosystems, namely alpine meadow, agroforestry, forest and riverine. The study was conducted in Nubra Valley, a cold desert region of Ladakh, India. Vegetation was sampled across the four major ecosystems of the Valley during the peak growing season (June–August) using a stratified design and nested quadrat method for trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–15&#xa0;cm and analysed for chemical properties. A total of 129 vascular plant species representing 43 families and three growth forms were recorded. Herbaceous species dominated (<i>n</i> = 97) with Asteraceae and Fabaceae as the most species-rich families. Among ecosystems, alpine meadows exhibited highest herbaceous richness (47 species) while agroforestry showed the highest tree assemblage (14 species). Shannon diversity varied from 1.24 ± 0.31 in forest ecosystems to 1.84 ± 0.35 in alpine meadows for herbs. Soil analyses indicated near-neutral pH (6.69–6.86) and high organic carbon content (1.46–1.85%). However, micronutrients, especially iron and manganese, had a noticeable spatial variation (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). These findings offer a quantitative ecological baseline data highlighting importance of environmental gradients and traditional land-use approaches in shaping vegetation in Trans-Himalayan cold deserts with direct implications for sustainable arid land management.</p>