Desertification is one of the most serious ecological/environmental problems in arid/semi-arid region. The most effective way for desertification combating and ecological restoration is the vegetation rehabilitation. However, we have less knowledge on the growth of key species grown in desertificated area. Salsola collina, Chenopodium album, Artemisia frigida and Artemisia ordosica are such important key species in Horqin sandy land, Inner Mongolia, China. In this study, we investigated growth responses to water stress of these species. Under the conditions of 25/15 °C (light/dark) in air temperature, 50/60 % in relative air humidity, plants were treated with different water supply, such as 30, 60, 90 and 120 mm per month. Each species showed the tendency of growth decrease as water stress increased, while the extent/significance was differed among species. The growth of S. collina and C. album were not significant among the water treatments of 60-120 mm. A. frigida showed the significant growth reduction with increasing water stress, while the maximum growth was observed in plants treated with 90 mm water supply. From these results, we consider the effective way how to use these plants for desertification rehabilitation.