[Objective] Based on bibliometrics, research hotspots and trends in the field of plant-soil reinforcement were explored to provide a reference and guidance for the research status and development in this field. [Methods] Using the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Web of Science (WoS) databases as data sources, a combined approach using VOSviewer and CiteSpace was employed for the visual analysis of publication volumes, countries, institutions, researchers, and keywords in the field of plant-soil reinforcement from 1993 to 2023. [Results] ① The volume of publications showed a slow increase followed by a sustained rapid growth, with the publication volume in CNKI stabilizing in recent years while that in WoS surged. ② China has produced the most research results on plant-soil reinforcement, but there was still room for improvement in research quality. Beijing Forestry University, Yunnan Agricultural University, and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University were the three major institutions in the field of plant-soil reinforcement. While the collaborative publication of literature showed that the team has close cooperation within the institution it lacks cooperation outside the institution. ③ Research in the field of plant-soil reinforcement focused on slope stability, root mechanics, and root-soil shear resistance. Keyword analysis showed that WoS emphasized erosion prediction, the Loess Plateau, and mechanical properties, whereas CNKI highlighted root morphology, drawdown zones, mechanical characteristics, self-repair, and ecological restoration as research hotspots over the past three years. [Conclusion] China has the highest research output in this field; however, there is room for improvement in research quality and collaboration among teams and institutions. Most studies have focused on herbaceous plants and have had relatively short durations. Future research should deepen the study of other plant types and longer durations. In addition, research on ecologically vulnerable areas remains limited, indicating the need to expand the scope of future research.