Based on literature and previous studies, risks of alien invasive ornamental plants in China were assessed for the first time, taking into consideration of their composition, growth characteristics, detection or introduction time and place, and geographical origin. The results show that there are 84 invasive plants belonging to 30 families in China. Most of them were part of Asteraceae, Onagraceae, Leguminosae, Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae. Perennial and annual herbs account for the majority. Most of these ornamental plants could reproduce by seeds and a part of the plants have asexual reproduction ability. They were mainly detected in or introduced to China from 1890 to 1969 in coastal provinces and Yunan Province of China. America was the primary geographical origin of these alien invasive plants. The number of the strongest invasive plants, the stronger invasive plants and the weaker invasive plants are respectively 8, 56 and 20. The majority of the alien invasive ornamental plants are moderately dangerous.