Species habitat correlation analysis is important for understanding the mechanism behind community assemblages. The relationship between environmental factors and species distribution have important implications for developing optimal strategies for conservation of species diversity, sustainable management and utilizing plant resources. Baotianman Nature Reserve (BNR) is located in the warm temperate and subtropical transition zone. Due to the geographic location, there are complex communities and high species richness. BNR is the most well preserved natural broad-leaved forest areas in east China. However, studies on species and environmental correlation have not been reported in the warm temperate and subtropical transition zone. In the following study, 43 wood species with ≥5 individuals and diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1.0 cm were selected in a 1-hm² plot to study the correlation of species distribution and environmental factors including four topographic factors and 15 soil factors. Topographic factors included mean elevation, mean slope, mean aspect, mean convexity and soil factors included Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, S, Zn, Ca, pH, MO, C, TN, P, K, JN. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to explore the influence of topographic and soil factors on species spatial distribution. Torus-translation test was employed to test the significance of the species-topography and species-soil association. CCA analysis showed that the topographic factors explained 7.3%, and soil factors explained 16.2% of the species distribution. Torus-translation test showed that 23.3% of species showed significant associations with the four habitats of topographical environment. Ridge habitat had the most positive species association, accounting for 57% of the positive association number. Forty seven percent of species showed significant associations with the six habitats of soil environment. High concentration habitat had the most positive species association accounting for 52.6% of the positive association number, and was significantly higher than the medium concentration and low concentration habitat. High concentration habitat also had the most negative association number accounting for 42.8% of the negative association number, followed by low concentration habitat, which accounted for 26.3%. The above results suggest that soil habitat has significant effects on the spatial distribution of species in the warm temperate and subtropical transition zone. Species-topographic associations also contribute to species distribution but to a lesser extent. The results support the ecological niche theory as an important mechanism of species coexistence in the warm temperate and subtropical transition zone.