[Objective] Studying the salt-tolerant capacity of tree species in the riparian zones in order to provide a support for the selection of afforestation species suitable for this zone. [Methods] Based on the previous investigation of survival rate of planted species in the riparian zones, five species(Locust, P. betulaefolia, pagoda tree, velvet ash and Ailanthus) were selected for the experiment in salinized soil. We studied the responses of germination and growing indexes of five species to salt stressed soils with different slat concentrations(CK, 1.5‰, 3‰, 6‰, 8‰, 11‰). [Results] With the increasing of salinity, the seed germination rate and emergence index decreased significantly. Pagoda tree showed the most serious symptom under salt stress, followed by P. betulaefolia, locust, Ailanthus and velvet ash. Membrane permeability and MDA contents of the five species increased remarkably. The contents of chlorophyll showed a decreased tendency with the increasing of salt concentration. The content of proline increased under low level of salt stress and decreased under high level of salt stress. [Conclusion] Subordinate function analysis showed that the salt-tolerance of velvet ash is the best, followed by Ailanthus, P. betulaefolia, locust and pagoda tree.