Abstract: The aim of these experiments was to determine whether exogenous salicylic acid (SA) could protect Coronilla varia seedlings against drought stress. Leaves of C. varia seedlings grown in pots were sprayed with salicylic acid at four concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mmol/L) and then the membrane lipid peroxide index, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants in seedling leaves were determined during a drought stress treatment. At concentrations of 0.5-2.0 mmol/L, SA decreased the superoxide anion (O₂^-·) production rate, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and cell membrane permeability, and increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which increased the antioxidant index capacity. However, at concentrations of 0.5-2.0 mmol/L, SA did not affect the ascorbate acid (ASA) and glutathione (GSH) contents in seedling leaves. At 11 days of drought stress, the O₂^-· production rate, MDA content, and cell membrane permeability were 79.78%, 34.42%, and 36.96% lower, respectively, and CAT activity was 2.45-fold higher in seedlings treated with 0.5 mmol/L SA than in untreated seedlings (P<0.05). At 16 days of drought stress, the SOD and POD activities were 3.85-fold and 3.63-fold higher, respectively, in seedlings treated with 0.5 mmol/L SA than in untreated seedlings. These results demonstrated that exogenous SA could improve the drought resistance of C. varia by reducing reactive oxygen levels under drought stress, increasing the activity of the antioxidant system, and alleviating oxidation damage to cell membranes resulting from drought-induced membrane lipid peroxidation. The most effective concentration of SA was 1 mmol/L.