Taking six most common garden plants in Shenzhen were used as research objects, the amount of dust retention per unit leaf area and the particle size composition of dust were studied. The microscopic morphology and the structure of leaf surface as well as the composition and distribution characteristics of the retained particles were investigated. The influence of meteorological factors on the dust retention characteristics of plants was clarified. The results showed that: 1) The dust retention amount per unit leaf area of different plant types was Ficus microcarpa (0.74±0.21 g/m²) > Schefflera arboricola (0.42±0.26 g/m²) > Ficus hispida (0.24±0.26 g/m²) > Ixora chinensis (0.20±0.07 g/m²) > Ophiopogon bodinieri (0.18±0.10 g/m²) > Plumeria rubra (0.15±0.10 g/m²). 2) The six types of garden plants were mainly composed of particles with particle size α>10 μm. The weight of particles with size α>10 μm accounts for 59.21%~88.92% (except for F. microcarpa) of the total weight. S. arboricola had the strongest dust-retaining ability for particles with size α>10 μm (0.34±0.20 g/m²). F. microcarpa had the strongest dust-retaining ability for particles with size 3 μm<α<10 μm (0.51±0.15 g/m²) and 0.15 μm<α<3 μm (0.14±0.07 g/m²). 3) Stoma, fold, groove, flocculent protuberance and villi on the surface were conducive to the retention of dust. The main elements of the retained particles were O, Si and Al. 4) The large particles (α>10 μm) detained by the leaves of the six garden plants were susceptible to wind speed and temperature. The results of this study can be used to guide the arrangement of garden plants in Shenzhen and provide a scientific evidence for the plant dust retention effect to improve air quality.