Abstract: Tulipa iliensis is an important ephemerals in Junggar Basin in Xinjiang in China. In order to investigate how ephemerals respond to the distribution of water and nutrients, we measured stable carbon isotope composition (d13C) in leaves of T. iliensis collected from 9 natural populations in the southern edge of Gurbantonggut Desert in Junggar Basin. Meanwhile, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and water content of leaves and soil are analyzed. The results show there are no significant variations in d13C values of T. iliensis among 9 natural populations. It means that d13C values of T. iliensis are mainly controlled by their inherent characteristics. And small changes of d13C values may attribute to growing environments. Regression analyses between d13C values and water and nutrients in T. iliensis indicate that d13C values are positively correlated with leaf total nitrogen content and soil total nitrogen content, negatively correlated with leaf water content and soil water content. It is apparently that leaf and soil total nitrogen content and water content contribute great impact on water use efficiency of T. iliensis in Junggar Basin.Furthermore, the role the soil plays might affect resource acquisition and influence nutrient cycling in arid systems.