The plasticity of plant morphological and physiological traits is the foundation to probe species adaptation.Hence,the plasticity of growth,photosynthetic and hydraulic traits of Caragana korshinskii growing under different slope positions with different soil texture,including A:gully channel+loessial soil,B:slope+loessial soil,C:slope top+loessial soil and D:slope top+layered soil,were studied in order to explore the mechanism of the extensive distribution of this species under fragmented landscapes on the Loess Plateau.The results indicated that:(1)the soil moisture within 1-3 m and 3 m layer under habitat D and A were higher than those under habitat B and C.(2)C.korshinskii growing under habitat A and D had relatively larger canopy size,plant height and currentyear twig length and thinner leaf thickness than those plants under habitat B and C.The midday leaf water potential,net photosynthetic rate,stomatal conductance and transpirational rate were also increased,but no difference existed for specific hydraulic conductivity,Huber value and midday native embolism.(3)Among those measured plant traits,currentyear twig length,net photosynthetic rate,stomatal conductance and transpirational rate showed relative larger plasticity,indicting C.korshinskii mainly depend on variation of currentyear twig length and photosynthetic traits to adapt to different water habitats.