Transcription of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) occurs pervasively across eukaryotic genomes. Only a few lncRNAs have been characterized and shown to control biological processes, albeit with idiosyncratic regulatory mechanisms. Thus, we largely lack knowledge about the general role of non-coding transcription in eukaryotic organisms. The most common non-coding transcription in higher organisms occurs on the complementary strand of coding sequences, also called antisense transcription. Yet, our knowledge of how antisense transcription regulates the synthesis of full-length coding messenger RNA is particularly rudimentary in multicellular organisms, such as plants. During exposure to cold temperatures, plants actively regulate a large part of their transcriptional output. Emerging evidence show that transcription of lncRNAs is an important player of the cold response. I will discuss the role of the lncRNA, SVALKA, during low temperature stress in detail. SVALKA is transcribed on the antisense strand of CBF1, a key transcription factor in cold and negatively regulates the levels of CBF1 mRNA. Furthermore, I will look more closely on all antisense transcripts in Arabidopsis to highlight a more general role during the exposure to cold temperatures and the overall stress responsiveness of genes with antisense transcription.