The present study investigated the photosynthetic characteristics (net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (G_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), internal water use efficiency (WUE)), transpiration rate (T_r) and leaf water potential (Ψ_w) of Amygdalus pedunculata Pall and Salix psammophila under drought stress in soils with different textures (sandy soil and loamy soil) on the Loess Plateau through water control pot experiment. The results showed that P_n, G_s, WUE and T_r of A. pedunculata Pall and S. psammophila in soils with different textures increased firstly and then declined under the drought stress, while C_i and Ψ_w showed a trend of rising and decreasing, respectively. Soil texture significantly affected the sensitivity of A. pedunculata Pall and S. psammophila to the water deficiency. Under the same drought degree, the P_n and G_s of A. pedunculata Pall in the loamy soil were significantly higher than those in the sandy soil, while an opposite trend was observed for the S. psammophila (p < 0.05) (except the severe drought treatment). A significant difference in WUE of A. pedunculata Pall and S. psammophila was observed between the soils with different textures when the soil moisture was reduced to moderate and severe drought (p < 0.05). The growth of A. pedunculata Pall in the loamy soil was better than that in the sandy soil, while S. psammophila showed an opposite trend. Therefore, during the vegetation restoration and ecological construction on the Loess Plateau, the tree species should be chosen not only according to the soil water condition, but also considering the different responses of vegetation to drought stress in soils with different textures.