Vegetation plays a critical role in protecting the surface but our understanding of their effect on wind and sand transport is incomplete due to lack of knowledge of the association of plant effectiveness with plant morphology. The influence of two plant types C. bipinnatus and L. lucidum on wind velocity and sand flux was assessed in different densities in a wind tunnel. Aerodynamic characteristics of frontal area (FA), pore area (PA), optical porosity (OP), frontal area efficiency (FAeff), frontal area display efficiency (FADeff), frontal area index (lamda), E value (Vogel number) and drag force (Fd ) were obtained for both plant types. Wind velocity and sand flux profiles were obtained over unplanted and planted configurations in different densities under a range of wind velocities. The results showed that the plant types presented different responses to wind due to differences in their morphology. Parameters including FA, FAeff and lamda decreased to a greater extent in C. bipinnatus than L. lucidum. FADeff increased and OP decreased more in L. lucidum. A negative relationship was observed between normalized wind velocity and sand flux and the plant density parameters of horizontal vegetation cover (Cv), spatial index (C) and frontal area index (lamba). Greatest shelter effect was observed at z/h = 0.8 - 1 and at x/h = 15.3. A finite downwind distance existed within canopies before sand flux decreased as a result of plant drag reducing the velocity of blown sand. This distance is longer in low density and shorter in medium and high densities. A different efficiency was observed between the two plant types in controlling wind velocity and sand transport which was attributed to their different morphologic and aerodynamic responses. Significant differences between the two plant types were observed in low density. It is concluded that plant morphology and structure determine a plant’s response to wind and this response affects its efficiency in controlling wind and sediment.