[Objective] The canopy interception ability of different types of garden plant communities was determined in order to provide a theoretical basis for selecting the plant community with the best canopy interception effect.[Methods] We selected seven plant communities with different structures, and measured actual throughfall and stem flow. We used the water balance method to obtain canopy interception.[Results] The greatest canopy interception rate (49.86%) was observed for a single-layer coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest. The lowest interception rate (23.66%) was observed for a single-layer broad-leaved shrub canopy. The throughfall, stem flow, and the canopy interception were linearly and positively correlated with rainfall amount (R² of about 0.9). Leaf area index, canopy closure, canopy thickness, green coverage area, and three-dimensional green quantity were negatively correlated with penetration rate, and positively correlated with interception rate.[Conclusion] The canopy of a garden plant community has the ability to retain rainwater, and different types of communities have different abilities. The interception rate of the single-layer broadleaved shrub canopy was the lowest, and that of the single-layer coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest was the greatest. Greater leaf area index and canopy density, thicker canopy, larger green cover area and three-dimensional green quantity all lead to greater canopy interception capacity of a garden plant community.