[Objective] Understanding the root distribution characteristics of artificial and natural restoration herbaceous plants are important to provide evidences for artificial revegetation in the Three Gorges riparian zone.[Methods] Three artificial herbs, including Hemarthria altissima, Hemarthria compressa, Paspalum paspaeoides, and one local natural herb from the riparian zone of Three Gorges Reservoir were selected to investigate their root characteristics using root analysis systems(WinRhizo Pro. 2009c). Their root distributions in soil profiles were compared.[Results] The results showed that roots mainly distributed in 0-10 cm soil. Root length density, root diameter(except for natural recovery grass), root surface area density, root bulk density and root tips density decreased exponentially with soil depth. Generally, throughout the investigated soil profiles(0-25 cm), root features of three artificial restoration herbs were considerably higher than that of the local natural grass.[Conclusion] The four investigated herbs have well-developed roots and adapted well to the habitat of long submerged stress.