To reveal the nutrient allocation patterns and limiting factors of different life-type tree species, as well as their potential adaptive mechanisms to the environment, and to provide a scientific basis for the nutrient cycling and community construction in forest ecosystems, we investigate the inter-organ and inter-species differences in C, N and P contents along with their ecological stoichiometric characteristics of four different life-type tree species in the subtropics. The carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents, as well as the ratios of carbon to nitrogen (C/N), carbon to phosphorus (C/P), and nitrogen to phosphorus (N/P) were measured in 10 organs of the coniferous species Pinus massoniana, the deciduous broadleaf species Liquidambar formosana, and the evergreen broadleaf species Schima superba and Elaeocarpus decipiens under the homogeneous environment conditions. The inter-organs and inter-species variations were quantified using coefficient of variation (CV), and standard linear regression was used to assess the growth relationship among C, N and P contents. The results showed that: (1) Significant differences in C, N, P, C/N, C/P (except tree species), and N/P were observed among different organs and tree species. Moreover, significant differences among organs were observed across tree species. Organs with high metabolic activity, such as leaves and roots, exhibited higher levels of N and P but lower C/N and C/P ratios, whereas slow turnover organs like sapwood and heartwood demonstrated the opposite trend. The average N/P ratio in the leaves of the four tree species was 32.36, significantly higher than that in other organs, suggesting a severe P limitation for the tree species in the study area. (2) Across different species and organs, C exhibits the highest stability in plant, with a CV of less than 6%, whereas N and P show higher CV values, especially P. Metabolically active organs such as leaves and fine roots exhibit smaller interspecific variations, while metabolically slow organs like bark and heartwood display larger interspecific variations. The CVs of N and P among the organs of the four tree species differed significantly, showing from weak to moderate variability, with moderate variability in S. superba and weak variability in E. decipiens. (3) In the N and P distribution relationship, leaves and sapwood exhibited positive allometric growth rates, while branches, bark, root heads, coarse roots, and small roots showed isometric growth. P. massoniana and S. superba had equivalent growth rates, whereas L. formosana and E. decipiens exhibited allometric growth. In conclusion, the distribution characteristics of N and P among organs of tree species with different life types are closely associated with the differentiation of organ functions. Generally, limited P is preferentially allocated to leaves and roots. Tree species with different life-type have distinct environmental adaptation mechanisms. In future studies, it is essential to consider interspecific and intraspecific variations in organ characteristics, because individual organ-level measurements of C, N, P, and their metrological properties may not accurately reflect the overall tree-level characteristics within or between species.