Revealing the response of the root tip in morphology, hydraulic structure and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentration to environmental conditions and external disturbances is conducive to comprehensive understanding of the adaptive capacity and adaptive strategies of sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis Rousi). This study was conducted on four wild sea-buckthorn forest types in Jiaocheng, Shanxi, growing in upper and lower slope with or without herbivores grazing to analyzed the response of root tip morphology, hydraulic structure and non-structural carbohydrate. Results showed that compared with those growing in the lower part of the slope, the specific root length of root tip and the density of root tip vessels of sea-buckthorn trees under the environment of relative water shortage on the upper slope increased significantly, and the diameter of root tip vessels decreased significantly. Meanwhile the mean length, mean diameter, cortical thickness and diameter of the central column of the root tip did not change significantly, and the specific hydraulic conductivity of root tip with and without herbivores grazing decreased by 18.12% and 20.6%, the hydraulic vulnerability index by 45.40% and 48.5%, respectively. However, the root tip NSC content did not change significantly. Herbivores grazing led to the decrease of the specific root length of root tip, the increase of the root tip mean diameter, cortical thickness and diameter of the central column, similarly decreased the diameter of root tip vessels and increased the density of root tip vessels. Herbivores grazing also led to the specific hydraulic conductivity of root tip decreased by 71.14% and 70.25%, and the hydraulic vulnerability index decreased by 23.95% and 19.41% for sea-buckthorn trees at the upper and the lower slope, respectively. The above results suggested that the poor water condition in the upper slope could make the root tip of sea-buckthorn trees have larger absorption area, a little lower water transport efficiency, and greatly improved hydraulic safety. And the herbivores grazing led to the thickening of root tip, the great reduction of hydraulic conductivity, and the slight improvement of safety. The NSC content in root tip did not decrease due to the slope position or herbivores grazing. The response of root tip to herbivores grazing was greater on the upper slope. This indicates that the response of root tip of sea-buckthorn trees to slope position and herbivores grazing is helpful for them to adapt to the two influencing factors, and herbivores grazing has a greater impact on root tip absorption and transportation functions.