Abstract: To provide a theoretical basis for selecting drought resistant varieties of Fraxinus mandshurica, this article selected Fraxinus mandshurica seeds from different habitats as experimental materials, and compared and analyzed the morphological and structural characteristics and water absorption characteristics of Fraxinus mandshurica seeds in different habitats. Different mass concentrations of polyethylene glycol（PEG） solution was used to treat drought stress on the seed of Fraxinus mandshurica, and the germination performance of Fraxinus mandshurica seeds in different habitats under drought conditions was compared and analyzed. The research results showed that, 1) the seed and wing size, thousand grain mass, and seed coat thickness of Fraxinus mandshurica in semi-arid habitats were significantly larger than those in suitable habitats. 2) The water absorption rate of seeds during germination in semi-arid habitats was significantly lower than that of seeds in suitable habitats by 7.75%. 3) When the mass concentration of PEG solution was 10%, the germination rate, germination index, vitality index, and radicle length of Fraxinus mandshurica seeds in semi-arid habitats began to be significantly higher than those in suitable habitats. Linear regression was performed on the germination rate, and the drought tolerance limit mass concentration of Fraxinus mandshurica seeds in semi-arid habitats was 1.23 times that of seeds in suitable habitats, indicating stronger drought resistance. 4) Under drought stress, the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase of Fraxinus mandshurica seeds in both habitats showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, and the enzyme activities of seeds in semi-arid habitats were consistently higher than those in suitable habitats. The results of this study indicate that in the selection of afforestation species in arid environments, priority should be given to selecting the seeds of Fraxinus mandshurica from semi-arid habitats as the afforestation source, in order to improve seed germination rate and seedling survival rate, and provide guarantees for the expansion of Fraxinus mandshurica resources.