[Objective] The effects of planting different perennial flowers on soil salinity and nutrients in the Yellow River delta were explored, in order to provide species reference for selecting suitable perennial flowers for ecological improvement of saline soil and assist the national strategy of the Yellow River and the construction of beautiful villages in saline-alkali areas. [Methods] The bare soil without planting perennial flowers was taken as the control, the soils planted with Iris lactea, Pennisetum alopecuroides subsp. purple, Dianthus plumarius, Gaillardia pulchella, Hemerocallis hybrida, and Sedum spectabile were examined to find the effects of perennial flowers planting on the soil salt content, electrical conductivity, Na⁺, Cl^-, available potassium, and available phosphorus content. [Results] ① The perennial flower planting showed ecological regulation effects on saline soil in the Yellow River Delta. Among them, I. lactea and P. alopecuroides significantly reduced the salt content in the 0—10 cm soil. At the same time, I. lactea also had a certain effect on reducing the salt content of 10—20 cm soil layer, and the trend of conductivity was consistent with the salt content. ② The contents of Na⁺ and Cl^- in the 0—10 cm soils were significantly reduced by G. pulchella and D. plumarius, and the removal effect of soil Cl^- by I. lactea and G. pulchella was significant. ③ Perennial flowers had no significant effect on the content of available potassium in topsoil but reduced the content of available phosphorus in the 10—20 cm soils except P. alopecuroides. [Conclusion] The improvement effect of I. lactea and P. alopecuroides on saline soil was better, and they could be given priority when selecting perennial flowers for ecological improvement of saline soil in the Yellow River delta. H. hybrida had the medium effect, whereas D. plumarius, G. pulchella and S. spectabile had poor effects.