We measured the airborne dust retention ability of leaves taken from 28 specie of plants planted along the main roads at centre urban area in Wuhan. We also ranked plants by their dust retention ability at first tree layer, second tree layer and shrub layer, respectively. The results showed that Platanus acerifolia, Firmiana simplex among 5 big tree species and Loropetalum chinense var., rubrum among 14 shrub species have the strongest dust retention ability. All the species at the second tree layer have weak dust retention ability. The principle and measure to dispose plants along the main roads should according to the plant ecology traits, ornamental value and the dust airborne quantity.