To screen suitable plants for artificial wetlands of Qionghai Lake, we collected five varieties of emergent plants there and compared their decontaminating effects on polluted water. The contamination elements to be removed included total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Comprehensive evaluation was carried out from the aspects of decontaminating capacity, root system, management and landscape beautification. The results showed that the TN and TP removal rates were higher in test groups of Pistiastratiopica and Trapaincise, the Acoruscalamus showed the lowest rate for NH3-N, TN and TP removals, and three varieties, i.e., Iris tectorum Maxim, Cyperusalternifolius and Acoruscalamus have obvious effect on COD removal.