Analysis on the relation between stable carbon isotope composition in Hippophate rhamnoides sinensis leaves and environmental factors was conducted in this study. Results showed that the leaf carbon isotope values ranged from -30.40‰ to -24.91‰, averaging -27.62‰, indicating the Hippophate rhamnoides sinensis species belongs to C₃ plant. The δ¹³C values of Hippophate rhamnoides sinensis has obvious spatial distribution characters, increasing with the increase of latitude and longitude, and decreasing with the increase of altitude. The δ¹³C values of Hippophate rhamnoides sinensis increase with the increase of evaporation and sunshine duration, and tend to decrease with the increase of precipitation, having considerable climate-indicating significance. The results also showed that the Hippophate rhamnoides sinensis has high water use efficiency and water is the main factor controlling its growth and the variation of foliar stable carbon isotope composition.