【Aim】 Cities are the main areas for the introduction and secondary spread of invasive alien species. Invasive plants in urban environments impact biodiversity and the social economy. To clarify the influence of urban spatial differences on the distribution patterns of invasive plants can provide a reference for scientific management. 【Method】 Based on the survey of 461 random sample plots in Haikou City, the species, coverage, average height and environmental information of invasive alien plants were recorded. The occurrence differences and distribution characteristics of invasive plants on different urbanization gradient and land use types were compared in terms of sample plot incidence, species composition, richness, and abundance. 【Result】 A total of 36 species of invasive alien plants were recorded, belonging to 13 families and 31 genera. Compositae was the dominant family, and most invasive plants were annual and native to tropical America. The richness was significantly higher in urban cores and urban fringes than in urban suburbs; however, the abundance was significantly higher in urban suburbs than in urban cores and urban fringes. The probability of invasive plant occurrence was negatively correlated with the proportion of impervious surface areas in residential area, transportation land, open land, and commercial, institutional, industrial, and mining areas, respectively. However, in woodlands, agricultural lands, and public green spaces, invasive plants were more likely to occur in areas with higher open surfaces, respectively. 【Conclusion】 Both urbanization gradient and land use type significantly affected the distribution pattern of invasive plants. As an important explanatory factor, the proportion of impervious surface areas could provide a predictive reference for the occurrence of invasive plants.