Abstract: In this study, we simulated low temperature stress environments by subjecting 8 European plum varieties at -12, -16, -20, -24, -28, -32, -36 and -40 ℃, with 4 ℃ as the control. The content of osmoregulatory substances, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the semi-lethal temperature of annual branches were measured. The cold resistance of these cultivars was assessed using the membership function method. The results showed that YC-004 exhibited the lowest semi-lethal temperature at -25.18 ℃, while YC-008 had the highest LT₅₀ at -16.87 ℃. According to the average membership degree, the cold resistance ranking of European plum varieties was as follows: YC-004＞YC-016＞YC-014＞ YC-002＞YC-008＞ YC-001＞YC-010＞YC-013. The cultivars with high cold resistance (YC-004 and YC-016) had lower relative conductivity, higher SOD and POD enzyme activities and higher soluble sugar accumulation at low temperatures, while the cultivars with low cold resistance had higher MDA content and more significant cell membrane damage.