According to the existing topography, soil test data, and the rock bareness degrees in the riparian zone of Meishan reservoir, we divided the zone into 3 sites, the ramp ground, steep slope and rock slope. Tree species selection and cultivation techniques were determined in the 3 sites based on the water level, survival rates of different plants, and the growth performance in dry and wet seasons. We also analyzed the causes of the tree death and decay to find alternative plant species. The results showed that the plant growth was different under different water levels. With the rise of altitude, the time of waterlogging became shorter and the water depth became shallower, the plant growth was promoted; however, the drought stress became seriously. The plant growth reached the maximum value at the altitude of 119 m. Under the same flooding and drought conditions, Salix babylonica performed poorly and could not adapt to the reservoir environment with ~55% of death rate. The best performance was obtained from Salix matsudana, with ~86% of survival rate. The order of the survival rate was Salix matsudana > Metasequoia glyptostroboides > bamboo willow >Sapium sebiferum > Liquidambar formosana > Salix babylonica. Pinus massoniana planted in the upper area of the riparian zone grew normally because of no flooding stress.