[Objective] The soil stability, soil and water conservation functions, and anti-scourability of different vegetation types were assessed in order to provide a scientific basis for species selection and function improvement of the Hongze Lake embankment shelterbelt. [Methods] Root biomass, soil organic matter, soil bulk density, porosity, water-stable aggregates, anti-scouribility, and soil erosion resistance of Populus simonii var. przewalskii, Celtis sinensis, P. simonii var. przewalskii×Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Cynodon dactylon, and M. glyptostroboides were analyzed using the weight method, the potassium dichromate heating oxidation method, the ring-knife method, the wet sieving method, the Sobolev anti-rush experiment, and the hydrostatic disintegrating method, respectively. [Results] Among all of the vegetation types, P. simonii var. przewalskii was greatest in diameter at breast height, height, crown width, and canopy density. Root biomass of the five vegetation types decreased with the increasing soil depth from 0 to 45 cm, and C. sinensis had the highest values in each soil layer among the tested plants, followed by P. simonii var. przewalskii and C. dactylon (except for the third soil layer). In most cases, Populus simonii var. przewalskii and C. sinensis significantly increased soil organic matter, soil bulk density, and total porosity. Additionally, the amounts of microaggregates (＜0.25 mm) under P. simonii var. przewalskii and the amounts of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) under C. sinensis were much greater than those under other vegetation types in the 0—15 and 15—30 cm layers. The protecting effects on the embankment varied with the vegetation type. The soil under P. simonii var. przewalskii and C. dactylon was highest in soil anti-scouribility and erosion resistance, followed by those under Populus spp. and P. simonii var. przewalskii×M. glyptostroboides. The protecting effects under M. glyptostroboides were the lowest. Significantly positive relationships were observed for the effects on protecting the embankment from erosion indicated by soil anti-scouribility and erosion resistance with root biomass, soil organic matter, soil bulk density, and total porosity. [Conclusion] Therefore, soils under P. simonii var. przewalskii, C. sinensis, and C. dactylon had high stability, and thus, these vegetation types have great potential for protecting embankments from erosion. For the present shelterbelt mainly planted to P. simonii var. przewalskii, reasonable forest improvement and plant community configuration could be used as effective measures to improve the function of the Hongze Lake embankment shelterbelt.