How to realize the high-quality coordinated development between the construction of ecological civilization and the highly mixed areas of production, living and ecological space is an important problem faced by the river network area of the Pearl River Delta in the new era. Based on the first-hand field survey data from 2018 to 2021, aiming at 202 sample points in 20 sample plots in Guangzhou-Foshan area, this paper studied the composition characteristics and application of plant communities in typical habitats in river network area by integrating quantitative analysis method of ecology and spatial analysis method of landscape architecture. The results show as follows. Firstly, there are abundant plant species in the river network area of the Pearl River Delta, with 551 species of vascular plants belonging to 382 genera and 122 families; The vertical structure of "arbor, shrub, grass and vine" of plant community is complete, but the proportion of native plants is relatively low and the alien invasion is more serious. Secondly, there are abundant species of animal friendly plants, including 88 species of bird friendly plants, 90 species of insect friendly plants and 34 species of fish and amphibian friendly plants, but there is a lack of scientific allocation for animal friendly habitats. Thirdly, the river network area includes four typical habitats of waterfront, dike-pond, farmland and settlement, as well as nine stable flora, but its ecological function and features of water town landscape have been seriously weakened under long-term human disturbance. Finally, taking the Damei Park in Foshan as an example, this paper discusses the practice of ecological restoration aimed at restoring biodiversity and characteristic landscape style in the river network area. This paper provides an important planning and design blueprint and practical demonstration for the regional landscape restoration in the river network area of the Pearl River Delta and the near natural ecological restoration in the mixed area of production, living and ecological space.