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Emergent plant Zizania latifolia, floating aquatic plant Eichornia crassipes and submerged plant Hydrilla verticillata were selected to investigate the effect of aquatic plant on quality of mild eutrophic water. The nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton chlorophyll a and other water quality physicochemical parameters in plant treatments and no plant treatment were determined during a five months indoor experiment. The results showed that the three plant treatments could significantly decrease the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water column. The removal efficiency of total phosphorus was E.crassipes＞H.verticillata＞Z.latifolia, while the removal efficiency of total nitrogen was E.crassipes＞Z.latifolia＞H.verticillata. In addition, E.crassipes showed the strongest inhabiting effect on phytoplankton abundance; while Z.latifolia had the lowest effect on it. As compared with control group, H.verticillata increased the content of dissolved oxygen and pH and decreased the redox potential in the water, while E.crassipes had the opposite effect.Z.latifolia did not have a significant effect on water physicochemical parameters. These results could provide an insight in selection of plants for ecological restoration of mild eutrophic water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]