This study was aimed at understanding the effects of nitrogen gradient loading on the growth and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of Phoebe bournei seedlings through a simulated experiment on two-year-old P. bournei seedlings under seven nitrogen levels, N0 (0 g·m-2·a-1), N1 (5 g·m-2·a-1), N2 (10 g·m-2·a-1), N3 (15 g·m-2·a-1), N4 (20 g·m-2·a-1), N5 (25 g·m-2·a-1), and N6 (30 g·m-2·a-1) after 6 months of planting. The results showed that with an increase in nitrogen concentration, seedling height, ground diameter, and whole plant biomass showed an increase-decrease-increase pattern. Seedling height reached the maximum at N1 (142.41 cm), ground diameter and whole plant biomass reached the maximum at N2 (15.31 mm and 192.22 g, respectively), and these growth indices increased by 48.33%, 28.55%, and 114.58%, respectively, compared with the control group. Different nitrogen gradient loading treatments promoted an increase in total chlorophyll content in the leaves of P. bournei seedlings; the total chlorophyll content in leaves of the N2 and N3 groups was significantly higher and that of the N6 group was significantly lower than in the leaves of the N0 group (P < 0.05). With an increase in nitrogen intensity, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), potential photochemical activity (Fv/Fo), and actual photochemical efficiency (Yield) of P. bournei seedlings showed an increase-decrease-increase trend, and the photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) and nonphotochemical quenching coefficient (qN) showed a decrease-increase-decrease trend. From the perspective of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, N3 and N4 were the optimum concentration ranges of N For P. bournei seedlings; the photosynthetic efficiency of P. bournei seedlings could be significantly improved by an appropriate increase in nitrogen supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]