In order to elucidate the characteristics of plant community structure, species diversity and their evolution in peak-cluster depression region, the representative vegetation types in southwest karst region, i.e., shrub, secondary forest, and primary forest, were selected. Based on the systematic investigation of dynamic plots of three vegetation types in 2007, 2012, and 2017, the changes of community composition, community structure, and diversity were studied. The results showed that one species of shrub disappeared in 2007-2012, while 7 genera and 5 species disappeared in 2012-2017. For the secondary forest, 1 family and 1 genera disappeared in 2007-2012, and 4 family, 7 genera, and 6 species increased in 2012-2017. Regarding the primary forest, 1 families, 4 genera, and 6 genera increased in 2007-2012, and 1 family, 3 genera and 3 species increased in 2012-2017. The increased and decreased species were occasional or rare species, which would cause the fluctuations in population. The important values (IV) of Vitex negundo and Alangium chinense in shrubs were more than 10. In addition, Vitex negundo had an absolute advantage. The IV of Radermachera sinica, Cipadessa cinerascens, and Toona sinensis in the secondary forest were more than 10, which were the dominant species. The dominant species of the primary forests were not prominent and were multi-predominant species communities. The average diameter at the breast height (DBH) in the three communities differed significantly among the three periods.The average tree height was not significantly different between 2007 and 2012, and between 2012 and 2017, while differences were achieved significant level (P < 0.05) between 2007 and 2017. The total diameter-level structure showed an inverted "J" shape, which indicated that the community was in a good state. The different strategies should be adopted according to different vegetation restoration stages, which provided scientific basis for vegetation restoration in karst region. With the passage of time, the important value of dominant species tended to decrease. The community structure and diversity changed greatly during ten years.