[Objective] The influence of topography on the diversity and distribution pattern of plant species in karst areas was studied, in order to provide scientific basis for ecological protection and maintenance in this region.[Methods] Variance analysis was used to study the species diversity of trees, shrubs and herbs under different topographic in Shibing karst area of Guizhou Province, and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) was used to study the effects of topographic factors on their distribution patterns.[Results] The evenness of trees at the top of mountain was significantly lower than other slopes, while the dominance was significantly higher than other slopes. The diversity of shrubs at the top of mountain was significantly higher than that at the downhill and valley. The richness at the top of mountain was significantly higher than that at the middle slope, downhill slope and valley, and the uphill was significantly higher than that of the downhill and valley. The dominance of valley was significantly higher than that of the top of mountain. The diversity of herbs was significantly lower at the top of mountain than that at the middle slope, downhill and valley. The richness was significantly lower at the ridge and the top of mountain than that at the middle slope, downhill and valley. The dominance was opposite to the diversity. The richness of herbs in semi-shady slope was significantly higher than that in semi-sunny slope. The influence of slope on the richness and diversity of trees was consistent, the flat slope was significantly higher than those on the gentle slope and slope, and steep slope was significantly higher than those on slope. The evenness of slope was significantly lower than those on flat slope and steep slope, while the dominance was opposite to the evenness. The CCA results showed that, elevation and slope had significant influence on the distribution pattern of the three types of growing plants while slope direction had no significant influence. Slope position had significant influence only on the distribution pattern of tree species.[Conclusion] The diversity and distribution pattern of plant species in karst areas are influenced by many factors, elevation and slope are the main influential factors, and slope position and slope direction are the secondary influential factors.