Freeze-thaw cycles are the most significant environmental stressors to temperate deciduous tree species, limiting their distribution, survival, and growth. Hydraulic failure due to freeze-thaw induced embolism is one of the major risks to trees in maintaining hydraulic function. In this study, eight cultivars of four characteristic forest and fruit tree species (Wen 185, Xin Xin 2 Hao, Hong Fu Shi, Wang Lin 1 Hao, Diao Gan Xing, Xiao Bai Xing, Kong Long Dan, and Wei Di) from the southern part of Xinjiang were used as the target species of investigation. We compared and analyzed the differences between the plants in terms of their hydraulic function, conduit structural traits, and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Furthermore, we explored the relationship between the hydraulic function of the eight plants' branches and their conduit structural traits and NSC. Finally, we identified their response and adaptation mechanisms. The findings revealed that: (1) Freeze-thaw cycles significantly affected xylem hydraulic traits. From January to February (freeze-thaw embolism period), the specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of the eight cultivars significantly decreased, while the hydraulic conductivity loss rate (PLC) significantly increased, indicating that low-temperature freezing and thawing stress damaged the xylem hydraulic conductivity system. The greatest hydraulic conductivity losses were observed in Wen 185 and Xin Xin 2 Hao; (2) In March (freeze-thaw embolism recovery period), the loss of hydraulic conductivity was recovered to different degrees in different cultivars, but there were differences in embolism repair capacity, with Wen 185 and Xin Xin 2 Hao having the strongest embolism repair capacity; (3) During the freeze-thaw cycle, PLC induced by freeze-thaw stress was significantly and positively correlated with conduit diameter and xylem water potential at 50% (P50) and 88% (P88) loss of hydraulic conductivity. Trees with narrower conduit diameters and less embolism vulnerability had higher hydraulic safety, but cultivars did not show a coordinated relationship between hydraulic efficiency and safety; (4) During the freeze-thaw embolism period, conduit diameter, starch content, P50, hydraulic diameter, P88, wood density, and conduit density significantly affected PLC; During the freeze-thaw recovery period, increased branch water content was associated with higher Ks and lower PLC, with Ks positively correlated to soluble sugar content and branch water content negatively correlated with PLC, highlighting the crucial role of NSC and water content in hydraulic recovery. Our results found that the 8 fruit cultivars showed different adaptation strategies when facing the same freeze-thaw cycle. The study enriches the understanding of the effects of freeze-thaw stress on the hydraulics and carbon physiology of temperate horticulture crops, and provides new insights into the responses and adaptations of different cultivars under climate change.