【Objective】Investigating the dynamic physiological adaptability and drought resistance of 12 plant species to arid stress, this study aims to select suitable shrub and tree species for vegetation restoration in the piedmont belt of the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains.In this study, by discussing the dynamic physiological adaptability and drought resistance of 12 shrubs and screened out the shrubs suitable for vegetation restoration in the Northern Piedmont of Tianshan Mountains. 【Methods】In this study, 12 plant species planted in the piedmont belt of the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, including Rosa acicularis, Caragana korshinskii, Xanthoceras sorbifolium, Prunus sibirica, Tamarix chinensis, Haloxylon ammodendron, Hippophae rhamnoides, Hippophae rhamnoides (‘Xinji 1#’ to ‘Xinji 5#’), were selected as the subjects. The study observed the spatiotemporal distribution of soil moisture following irrigation and analyzed the impact of drought stress and rewatering treatment on plant photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, anti-stress physiological and biochemical indicators, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The drought resistance of these twelve plant species was evaluated using principal component analysis.【Results】(I) Both before and after the onset of drought stress, the surface layer (0-20 cm) of the soil at each plant''s location exhibited the most rapid moisture loss. This trend diminished with depth, with the middle layer (20-40 cm) experiencing a lesser rate of loss and the bottom layer (40-60 cm) showing the slowest rate of water depletion. To cope with the drought conditions, different plant species adapted by altering their growth strategies, as evidenced by changes in their growth patterns. (II) As drought stress intensified, key photosynthetic physiological parameters in plant leaves, such as the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, potential activity of PSII, maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, electron transport rate, and chlorophyll content, all declined. In contrast, physiological indicators of stress resistance, including the activity of superoxide dismutase, proline content, malondialdehyde content, and non-photochemical quenching coefficient, increased. Following rewatering, a recovery was observed in these parameters, yet they did not fully return to their initial levels. (III) The results of principal component analysis highlighted that factors like net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, electron transport efficiency, and malondialdehyde content were major contributors. Species such as Haloxylon ammodendron, Tamarix chinensis, Rosa acicularis, and Caragana korshinskii demonstrated significant drought resilience. Hippophae rhamnoides, H. rhamnoides ‘Xinji 5’, H. rhamnoides ‘Xinji 1’ and Prunus sibirica showed moderate levels of drought resistance, while H. rhamnoides ‘Xinji 4’, H. rhamnoides ‘Xinji 3’, Xanthoceras sorbifolium and H. rhamnoides ‘Xinji 2’ exhibited relatively lower drought tolerance.【Conclusion】Net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, electron transfer efficiency, and malondialdehyde content are crucial indicators for evaluating the adaptability of various plant species to drought stress. In the context of ecological restoration efforts in the piedmont belt of the Tianshan Mountains'' northern slope in Xinjiang, prioritizing the cultivation of Haloxylon ammodendron, Tamarix chinensis, Rosa acicularis, and Caragana korshinskii is recommended.