Abstract: The growth characteristics and pollutant removal effect of Cleistocalyx operculatus in the constructed wetland were studied. The experiments showed: C.operculatus in the constructed wetland possessed a large amount of lateral roots, and they maintained a normal rate of net photosynthesis ((19.2±2.1)μmol/(m·s)), with a transpiration rate of (23.5±2.3)mmol/(m·s), a stomatal conductance of (657.5±53)mmol/(m·s), a vigor of (20.9±3.2)μg/(g·min) in the root system and a relative growth rate of (9.9±0.5)mg/(g·d). The removal rates of TN, TP, CODCr and BOD5 from the sewage in the constructed C.operculatus wetland were 55.6%, 44.2%, 75.7% and 73.2%, respectively. However, the amounts of uptake to N and P by plant only accounted for 16.4% and 12.6% of the amounts of removal from wastewater, respectively. C. operculatus, an evergreen tree, could be planted with shrub and herb to build natural wetland system and improve water quality.