The most effective way for desertification combating and ecological restoration is the vegetation rehabilitation. However, we have less knowledge on the growth of key plant species such as Poaceae species grown in desertificated grassland in North-East Asia. In the present study, we investigated the growth responses to water stress and other environmental factors of 6 species such as Achnatherum splendens, Agropyron cristatum (ecotypes of China and Mongolia), Cleistogenes squarrosa, Clinelymus dahuricus, Leymus chinensis, Stipa krylovii. The growth decreased as water stress increased in all species, while the depression degree differed among species. The RGR of C. dahuricus and S. krylovii decreased remarkably by water stress, due to a decrease in NAR. The SLA decreased with increasing in water stress, especially in A. splendens, which suggested an increase in leaf thickness. Many species except for A. splendens and C. dahuricus distributed more assimilate to root observed as an increase in root/shoot ratio water deficient condition. These might be adaptive characteristics for plants to survive in arid/semi-arid region where water deficient occurred frequently.