Abstract: Urban vegetation investigation provides primary data for urban ecosystem research and essential information for urban green space planning, design, management, and biodiversity conservation. Based on investigation results reported in China and abroad, how to determine the objects, sample sizes, sample units, sampling proportion of urban plants and select investigation indexes were reviewed by the investigating steps. Meanwhile, suggestions for application scenarios were given. The merits and demerits, common problems and possible solutions, adoptable new methods, and essential questions were expounded which deserved further studies to provide a reference for sampling survey methods, investigation design, and technical standards construction.