[Aim] In order to understand the distribution and severity of invasive plants around Dongting Lake, species composition, plant type, life history type and origin of each plant were inventoried. [Method] The methods of filed investigation, specimen collection, data access, and statistical analysis are applied on this paper. [Result] There were 86 invasive plants belonging to 64 genera and 24 families in and around Dongting Lake. There were 51 species originated from America, accounting for 58.6% of the total.There were 73 species of 53 genera and 21 families of dicotyledons. There were 13 species of monocotyledons, coming from 12 genera and 5 families, and there were 84 species of herbaceous plants, which account for 97.6% of the total. Compositae, Amaranthaceae and Gramineae constituted the main invasive plant families in Dongting Lake. Most plants were pantropical with cosmopolitan distributed. [Conclusion] There are many invasive plant species around Dongting Lake, which are rapidly spreading. Their propagation routes are diverse, their floristic components are complex, and their harm serious. According to the present situation of invasion, this paper puts forward some suggestions on the prevention and control of invasive plants around Dongting Lake areas.