In order to explore the differences of gender response of Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis to cadmium (Cd) in soil, this study used biennial seedlings of H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis as materials to study the differences in growth, leaf physiological characteristics and Cd accumulation characteristics of female and male seedlings under Cd concentration of 0(CK), 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg·kg^-1. The results showed that: (1) under Cd treatment, the growth of plant height, basal diameter and biomass of female and male H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis seedlings showed the phenomenon of low concentration (< 50 mg·kg^-1) promotion and high concentration (> 100 mg·kg^-1) inhibition. Under low concentration of Cd treatment, the growth rate of plant height, basal diameter and biomass of female seedlings were higher than those of males. Under high concentration of Cd treatment (200 mg·kg^-1), the growth of plant height, the leaf biomass and the total biomass of male seedlings were significantly lower than those of CK, while those of female seedlings were not decrease significantly. (2) With the increasing of Cd concentration, the content of photosynthetic pigments and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the leaves of female and male seedlings increased at first and then decreased, and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and osmoregulation substances increased. When the Cd concentration was 50-200 mg·kg^-1, the photosynthetic pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activities and osmoregulation substance contents in leaves of female seedlings were higher than those of males, while the MDA content was always lower than that of the males. (3) With the increasing of Cd concentration, the Cd content in various organs of female and male seedlings gradually increased and showed a trend of root > stem > leaf. The Cd content in various organs of female seedlings was higher than that of male seedlings. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) of aboveground and underground parts of female and male seedlings increased at first and then decreased, and all of them were higher than 1, while the translocation factors (TF) gradually decreased and were less than 1. The BCF and TF of aboveground and underground parts of female seedlings were higher than those of male seedlings. When the Cd concentration was 25-100 mg·kg^-1, the BCF of aboveground parts was significantly higher than that of male seedlings. It was found that H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis seedlings showed tolerance to Cd in certainly degree when the Cd concentration in soil was less than 50 mg·kg^-1. When the Cd concentration in soil was higher than 100 mg·kg^-1, the tolerance to Cd was weakened. The growth adaptability, physiological tolerance, enrichment and transport capacity of female seedlings to Cd in soil were stronger than male seedlings.