Wind is an important ecological factor. Plants can capture enough light and resist the external mechanical pressure by regulating the phenotype. The study area, Dabancheng in Xinjiang China is basically characterized by strong wind and drought. Salsola arbuscula and Zygophyllum xanthoxylum are dominant shrubs in this area. However, their resistance capacity to wind has not been assessed. This study investigated the phenotype of S.arbuscula and Z.xanthoxylum under strong wind to understand how these two shrubs responds to wind disturbance. Two natural wind regimes (from open and wind protected sites) were designed, lasting for 90 days. In the wind-exposed site, the height of S.arbuscula and Z. xanthoxylum were reduced, the basal stem diameter were increased respectively, compared from the closed site. The height of Z. xanthoxylum were reduced more than half in particular. The leaves of S.arbuscula and Z.xanthoxylum from the open site were smaller in every measured respect than those sampled from the closed site on average. The length and area of the S.arbuscula and Z.xanthoxylum leaves from open site were reduced respectively. The number and diameter of S.arbuscula leaves from wind-exposed site were increased, but the number and width of Z.xanthoxylum leaf from open site were decreased, the length and diameter of Z.xanthoxylum petiole from open site were reduced respectively, compared from the wind-protected site. S.arbuscula showed asymmetrical canopy in the wind-exposed site, number of the first order branch was increased with wind loading. Compared from the wind-protected site, the trunk angle to horizon, branch and leaf angle to trunk of S.arbuscula were reduced respectively. Z. xanthoxylum from the open site did not have the first order branch, its trunk angle to horizon was reduced, while leaf angle to trunk was increased, compared from the wind-protected site. It is indicated that S. arbuscula and Z. xanthoxylum exhibit dwarfism in response to chronic strong wind disturbance, and S. arbuscula also show a more compact form, with increased stem taper and smaller angle between branch and leaf,which present a streamlined shape to adapt the prevailing wind.