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This study was conducted to determine the role of some plant parameters on stemflow generation. Stemflow measurements in individual shrubs of three semi-arid growing species (Diospyrus texana, Acacia farnesiana and Prosopis laevigata) were carried out under natural and simulated rainfall conditions in northeastern Mexico. Stemflow coefficients for individual shrubs were developed. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference among the species for both natural and simulated rainfall conditions. The multiple linear models suggested that the number of branches and position on the canopy, instead of total projected branch area, controls stemflow. There were also suggestions that bark roughness, leaf and twig position may also explain some of the interspecific stemflow variation. This contribution was suggested by an introduced funnelling ratio.