<jats:p>Increasing evidence suggests a major role for phosphatidylcholine (PC) in plant stress adaptation. The present work investigated the regulation of choline, PC and interconnected phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis in <jats:italic>Arabidopsis thaliana</jats:italic> L. as a function of cold‐ and salt‐ or mannitol‐mediated hyperosmotic stresses. While PC synthesis is accelerated in both salt‐ and cold‐treated plants, the choline kinase (CK) and phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase genes are oppositely regulated with respect to these abiotic treatments. Salt stress also stimulates CK activity in vitro. A possible regulatory role of CK in stimulating PC biosynthesis rate in salt‐stressed plants is discussed.