Plasticity in hydraulic architecture of five dominant Atlantic forest species differing in light requirements and growth rates was evaluated in saplings grown at different irradiances to determine if hydraulic architecture changes in coordination with photosynthetic capacity. Saplings were grown in shade-houses at 10, 30, 45 and 65% of full solar irradiance for 4 months. In four of the five species, maximum relative growth rates were observed at intermediate irradiances (30 and 40% of full sun). Slow-growing species had lower maximum electron transport rates (ETR(max)) than fast-growing species. A positive correlation between ETR(max) and maximum leaf hydraulic conductivity (K(L)) was found across species, suggesting that species-specific stem hydraulic capacity and photosynthetic capacity were linked. Species with relatively high growth rates, such as Cedrela fissilis Vell., Patagonula americana L. and Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) Arrab. Ex Stend, exhibited increased K(L) and specific hydraulic conductivity (K(S)) with increased growth irradiance. In contrast, K(S) and K(L) did not vary with irradiance in the slower-growing and more shade-tolerant species Balfourodendron riedelianum (Engl.) Engl. and Lonchocarpus leucanthus Burkart, despite a relatively large irradiance-induced variation in ETR(max). A correlation between K(S) and ETR(max) was observed in fast-growing species in different light regimes, suggesting that they are capable of plastic changes in hydraulic architecture and increased water-transport efficiency in response to changes in light availability resulting from the creation of canopy gaps, which makes them more competitive in gaps and open habitats.