Plant functional traits, defined as morpho-physio-phenological traits, reflect the responses and adaptations of plants to the environment, and function as a bridge between the plant and factors of its environment. Varying leaf functional traits is an important strategy used by plants when adapting to changes in environmental gradient. Research on the relationship between shrub leaf functional traits and soil environmental factors in sloped (shady-sunny) gradients indicate that plants are able to respond and adapt to changes in the nature of spatial patterns at the levels of landscapes and microhabitats. In the present study, we explored how shrub leaf functional traits responded to soil environmental factors, and examined the correlation between changes in this relationship and slope gradient in the Karst hills of Guilin. Experiments were carried out at 24 sampling points with gradients sloping from the middle area of the hills to the foot of the hills (shady-sunny). In total, 24 plots (10m×10m) were sampled. Individuals of shrub species with stem base diameter (SBD) ≥ 1 cm were identified, and the functional traits of these plants and the soil environmental factors of each plot were measured. We then carried out non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank tests to assess differences in three shrub leaf functional traits (specific leaf area, SLA; leaf dry matter content, LDMC; and leaf thickness, LT) and in eight soil environmental factors (soil water content, SWC; soil temperature, Tem; pH; total organic carbon, TOC; soil organic matter, SOM; total nitrogen, TN; available nitrogen, AN; and total phosphorus, TP) along the slope gradient. Based on the results of this analysis, we used multiple stepwise regression analyses to determine the primary soil factors controlling variation in shrub leaf functional traits at the community level in relation to slope gradient. We observed that SLA in shady areas of the slope was greater than that in sunny areas of the slope, whereas LDMC and LT were higher in sunny areas of the slope. SWC, SOM, TOC and AN were higher in the shady areas of the slope, whereas Tem and TN were higher in sunny areas. Multiple regression analyses of leaf functional traits and soil factors indicated that, in shady areas of the slope, SLA was affected by AN, and that LDMC was primarily affected by Tem and TOC; however, there was no significant relationship between LT and soil environmental factors. In sunny areas of the slope, SWC and pH were the primary drivers of variation in SLA, whereas LDMC was affected primarily by TN. However, LT was affected by a combination of Tem, TN and TP. These results indicate that in different areas of the slope gradient (shady-sunny), the same leaf functional traits respond to different environmental factors, enabling adaptation to specific environmental conditions.