Leaves and fine roots ( < 2mm) account for the majority of annual litter production in forests. Whether their decomposition is coordinated would largely influence species effects on terrestrial ecosystem C cycling. Currently, the relationship between leaf and root decomposition is still highly uncertain, which may be caused by the ambiguous and arbitrary definition of fine roots. Within fine roots, only the distal root tips (R1) or root branches (R1-3) are functionally comparable to leaves as resource acquisition organs (absorptive roots). Here, we investigated decomposition of leaf litter and absorptive roots using litter bags for two years across eight temperate and subtropical tree species in China. Results showed that decay rates k (a^-1, negative exponential model) were positively correlated between leaf litter and absorptive roots when all eight temperate and subtropical trees were examined in combination, but when tree species were separated by climate zones or growth forms, the correlation was influenced by the soil depth at which leaf litter decomposition occurred, and the type of absorptive roots. N remaining in the leaf and root was not correlated when all eight trees were examined in combination. However, N remaining in the leaf and root was highly and positively correlated between leaf and R1-3 among subtropical trees after one year of decomposition, and between leaf and R1 among temperate trees after two years of decomposition. Here, the correlation between the decomposition of leaf and root was mainly influenced by whether both leaf and root decomposition were controlled by the same or related litter chemistry. In this study, all litter decay rates were positively related to acid soluble C fractions, but negatively related to acid insoluble C fractions. Summarizing results from our study and other studies, we found that the relationship between leaf and root decomposition was largely affected by species. Therefore, species composition dynamics due to climate change would largely affect above-and below-ground relationships and thus ecosystem C cycling.