[Objective] The northern Guangxi region is a typical karst rocky desertification area in China， where ecological restoration faces severe challenges. Current applied research on bryophyte-based ecological restoration mainly focuses on the Loess Plateau and the karst areas of Guizhou Province. However， studies focusing on the karst area of northern Guangxi Province—characterized by unique eco-geographical conditions （subtropical monsoon climate， favorable hydrothermal conditions， and limestone-dominated bedrock） and severe rocky desertification—remain relatively limited. In particular， research on the environmental adaptability of bryophytes and their functions and effectiveness in localized restoration practices is relatively scarce. [Methods] This study was conducted in the experimental area of Pingfeng Mountain in Qixing District， Guilin City. Three bryophyte species—Barbula unguiculata， Bryum paradoxum， and Hyophila involuta—were selected as the research objects. Through water-holding capacity test （for drought adaptation）， high-temperature resistance test （for surface high temperature adaptation）， acid and alkali resistance test （for soil and acid rain adaptation）， and erosion resistance test （for soil and water conservation assessment）， their environmental adaptability and ecological restoration potential were quantitatively evaluated. [Results] （1） All three bryophyte species exhibited significant water-holding capacity， with H. involuta showing the highest water-holding rate （581.71%）. This capacity enabled this species of bryophytes to effectively store water in the rocky desertification areas of northern Guangxi， contributing to improved soil moisture conditions. However， its high-temperature resistance was weak. After treatment at 60 ℃， some tissues turned black and necrotic. （2） B. unguiculata and B. paradoxum had water-holding rates of 408.88% and 389.82%， respectively， and demonstrated stronger resistance to high temperature， acid and alkali， and erosion， indicating better adaptability to the high-temperature and arid conditions of the rocky desertification areas in northern Guangxi. Among them， B. paradoxum achieved a plant density of 102 plants/cm² at pH=6， and its crust thickness （2.54 mm） and dry weight （0.311 g/cm²） were significantly higher than those under other treatments. （3） All three bryophyte species exhibited a certain degree of tolerance to different pH conditions. B. paradoxum showed the best growth performance in weakly acidic environments， indicating its good adaptability to acidic soil. （4） Bryophytes effectively reduced soil erosion， especially on steep slopes. B. unguiculata and B. paradoxum exhibited better erosion resistance than H. involuta， making them suitable for rocky desertification areas with large slope gradients to reduce soil loss. At a slope gradient of 30°， the soil erosion amounts of B. unguiculata and B. paradoxum （71.1 g， 67.2 g） decreased by more than 62% compared with bare soil （187.8 g）. [Conclusion] Considering the high water-holding capacity， strong environmental tolerance， and excellent erosion resistance of B. unguiculata and B. paradoxum， they are suitable for rocky desertification areas with large slope gradients to reduce soil loss and hold great potential for ecological restoration in the rocky desertification areas of northern Guangxi. They can not only improve soil moisture conditions but also effectively reduce soil erosion and enhance ecosystem stability， making them suitable as pioneer plants for ecological restoration in rocky desertification areas.