The controlled experiment was conducted to test the seedling emergence and growth responses of five desert species to burial by sand, and to assess whether easily measured plant traits can be used to predict their probable success. Study species included 5 species of shrubs and sub-shrubs occurring frequently in arid region of northwest China. In the burial experiment, seedling emergence declined exponentially with sand burial depth. The optimal burial depth of Reaumuria soongorica is 0～1cm, and the depth of 3cm is the maximum depth to emerge. There were no significant difference in the emergence of Calligonum mongolicum at all sand burial depths, however, it is only 4% at the depth of 8cm. So the optimal burial depth is observed 5cm. The optimal burial depth of Nitraria sphaerocarpa, Hedysarum scoparium and Nitraria tangutorum was also in the range of a shallow burial depth, and the approximate depths of the three desert species were 0～3cm. Seedling height was significantly affected by the sand burial depth. At the same period, the maximum height of most species were not in the surface, except Reaumuria soongorica, and the growth height of 0～3cm was bigger than those in 5～8cm for Nitraria sphaerocarpa, Hedysarum scoparium and Nitraria tangutorum, and the maximum height of Calligonum mongolicum was at the depth of 5cm. However, the biomass of the five desert species had no significant correlations with the sand burial depth. At the same sand burial depth, larger-seeded species like Calligonum mongolicum had the larger absolute height growth rate, which may help to explain their prevalence in the desert. However, seedling relative height growth rate was not significantly affected by plant species and sand burial depth. Absolute and relative height growth rate alone do not necessarily predict seedling survival success. In a restoration context, desirable species that are vulnerable during emergence and establishment can be targeted, and plant species, seedling growth rate and sand burial depth are determinants of recruitment success for desert species.