Seeds of four native species of trees and shrubs (Larrea cuneifolia, Bulnesia retama, Plectrocarpa tetracantha and Prosopis flexuosa) were exposed to soil contaminated with As, Cu, Cd, and Zn from an abandoned gold mine to identify adaptation strategies. Several physiological, morpho-anatomical, and biochemical parameters were determined. The seed germination of L. cuneifolia, B. retama, and P. tetracantha was fully inhibited in 100 % contaminated soil. Toxicological endpoints as NOEC, LOEC and IC50 ranged from 10 % to 25 % of soil contaminated with mining waste. Radicle elongation was the most sensitive variable to high metal(loid) concentrations, except for L. cuneifolia that hypocotyl elongation was the most affected parameter. P. flexuosa was selected to evaluate biochemical biomarkers and morpho-anatomical parameters. It showed an increase in radicle diameter and central radicle cylinder. A concentration-dependent increase in the O