In order to study the growth and water conservation capacity of typical plantations in southern hilly areas, six forest stands of Huaying City were selected as research objects. By measuring the characteristics of litter layer and soil layer under forest, the water holding capacities of litter and soil in different forests were analyzed and compared. The results showed that the litter of Chinese fir pure forest (close-to natural management) had the largest accumulated stock, and the water holding capacities of litter was as follows:Chinese fir pure forest (close-to-nature management) > Chinese fir pure forest > Pinus massoniana and Loropetalum chinense mixed forest (close-to-nature management) > Chinese fir and Populus alata mixed forest > Cypress pure forest > Pinus massoniana and Chinese fir mixed forest; the total soil porosity, capillary porosity and available water holding capacities of pure Chinese fir forest were optimal, reaching 67.67%, 60.39%, 138.11 t/hm².The available water holding capacities of the six forest stands soils were:pure Chinese fir forest > pure Chinese fir forest (close-to-nature management) > Pinus massoniana and Chinese fir mixed forest > Chinese fir and Populus alata mixed forest > Cypress pure forest > Pinus massoniana and Loropetalum chinense mixed forest (close-to-nature management). Combined with the water holding capacities of litter layer and soil layer, it could be found that the Chinese fir pure forest (close-to-nature management) gave the best water conservation capacity, 309.77 t/hm², but the Pinus massoniana and Chinese fir mixed forest gave the weakest.