The objective of this study was to explore the responses and acclimations of wild Spiraea trilobata and Rosa xanthina to soil water and nutrient conditions at different slope positions. We selected five wild adult plants for each of the two shrub species grown at three different slope positions (upper slope, mid-slope and lower slope) on a south-facing slope as experiment materials. In growing seasons of 2013 and 2014, we monitored soil water contents at the three slope positions once a week from June to September. Soil nutrient contents were measured in July 2014. In August 2014, we measured leaf morphological traits and nutrient contents of the plants. The results showed that the average soil water contents decreased significantly with ascending slope positions. Although soil pH, contents of total phosphorus and potassium were generally low and similar at all three positions, soil nitrogen and contents of organic matters were significantly lower at upper slope than at mid-and lower slope sites. Meanwhile, leaf traits of the two shrub species grown at different slope positions differed significantly. With slope position rising, both leaf area and mass of the adult plants of the two shrub species decreased, but the specific leaf area kept unchanged. Furthermore, contents of soluble sugar, non-structural carbohydrate and total nitrogen and total phosphorous in plant leaves of both species at upper slope position were significantly lower than those of plants grown at mid-and lower slopes, while the mass ratio of total carbon to total nitrogen was significantly higher at upper slope position. However, contents of organic carbon, total phosphorous and soluble protein in leaves did not change with slope positions for both species. Although there were significant differences in most leaf traits of S.trilobata and R. xanthina, their responses to changing slope positions were similar, both in direction and in magnitude, well coupled with the soil water gradient created by the slope. The above results suggest a similar long-term response and acclimation of leaves of wild S. trilobata and R. xanthina plants to soil water gradient in the natural environment.