To develop our knowledge of the impact of different vegetation types on aeolian sand flux, a series of experiments conducted in a wind tunnel monitored sand mass flux over a bare surface and in relation to the planted surface of two types of live plants, Cosmos bipinnatus and Ligustrum lucidum Ait, at different plant densities. Normalized sediment flux decreased with increasing height over a bare surface. However, plants affected the sediment transport system by modifying the vertical distribution of sediment flux within and above the vegetated surface. Sand flux reduced from low to high plant density below the plant height but this pattern reversed above the vegetated surface. Observations of the horizontal profiles of sand flux indicated sediment was transported within the vegetated areas of both plant types in all densities. In low density, the horizontal trend of sand flux was similar to the bare sand surface. In medium density, the sand flux increased slightly within the vegetated surface and decreased beyond the vegetated surface for both plant types. In high density, sediment flux increased from the upwind edge to the middle of the vegetation barrier, and reduced at the downwind end and beyond the vegetated surface of both plant types. Observations of sand flux in different plant densities revealed the influence of plant drag versus the turbulence produced by plants. At a certain distance within the vegetated area, plant drag reduced the sand flux. Although varying between the two plant types, sand flux decreased overall from unplanted to planted configurations.