Soil rehabilitation involves restoring their capacity to provide goods and services; however, there is a lack of information regarding the survival and growth responses of individual species to local environmental variations. This study evaluated the adaptation capacity of three non-native multiple-use species in agroforestry design, in a degraded semiarid temperate climate zone located in the Tula watershed in Mexico, assessing their survival, growth of morphological variables, and death risk for use as soil restoration plants. According to the slope of the terrain, the species were planted in an agroforestry arrangement of lines and ridges. Plants were selected according to their multipurpose potential, including their taxonomy, form, function, and use, as well as their soil and climatic conditions. Survival rates for all three species were below acceptable levels $$(< 49\%)$$ ( < 49 % ) . Neither Senna multiglandulosa nor Sedum dendroideum adapted well to the soil and climate of the site, since their survival rates were below acceptable $$(\sim 17<49\mathrm{\%})$$ ( ∼ 17 < 49 % ) . Aloe sp. adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the site because its survival rate was excellent $$(\sim 97 \ge 90\%)$$ ( ∼ 97 ≥ 90 % ) . Climate conditions during the autumn and winter affected growth rates of Senna multiglandulosa and Sedum dendroideum. Aloe sp. growth rates were only affected by climatic conditions during the winter months. Senna multiglandulosa's final height reduced death risk by $$1.50\%$$ 1.50 % . Sedum dendroideum's final diameter, initial canopy cover and canopy growth rate reduced the risk of death by $$55.1$$ 55.1 , $$5.1$$ 5.1 and $$30.7\%$$ 30.7 % , respectively. The height growth rate of aloe and initial canopy cover reduced the risk of death by 93.9 and 2.4%, respectively. Plant species evaluated showed varying levels of adaptation. Aloe sp. was the species that adapted best to the site's soil and climate.