The objective of this study is to provide data support for selecting ecological restoration tree species in degraded karst ecosystem. We studied the decomposition of leaf litter and its priming effect on soil organic carbon mineralization across eleven typical tree species in the karst area of China. Eleven typical ecological restoration tree species with strong adaptability and drought tolerance from Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry were selected for the study. We used the natural abundance difference in δ¹³C values of C₃ plant leaf litters and C₄ soil to separate leaf-derived CO₂ from soil-derived CO₂ and quantified soil priming effect intensity, the difference of leaf litter decomposition and its priming effect among different ecological restoration tree species were compared to explore the relationship between leaf litter traits and its decomposition and soil priming effect intensity. (1) The 11 ecological restoration tree species used in the study exhibited a fair degree variation in carbon-related properties (water soluble carbon, hemicellulose and tannin), nutrient contents (phosphorus and magnesium), and stoichiometric characteristics (carbon to phosphorus ratio and nitrogen to phosphorus ratio). (2) Leaf litter decomposition and priming effect intensity were significantly different among different ecological restoration tree species (P<0.001). The fraction of added leaf litter decomposed over the entire incubation period was 35.3% averaged across all 11 species with the highest for Hainania trichosperma litter (50%) and the lowest for Cyclobalanopsis glauca (16.5%). (3) Over the 200-d incubation period, mean daily CO₂ production from the control soil was 2.3 mg C kg^-1 soil d^-1, but 5.1 mg C kg^-1 soil d^-1 from the soil with leaf litter. It ranged from 4.2 (Cyclobalanopsis glauca) to 6.2 mg C kg^-1 soil d^-1 (Dalbergia odorifera). Overall, the added leaf litters significantly stimulated the decomposition of soil organic carbon by 37.6% on average. The input of leaf litter from Hainania trichosperma,Walsura robusta and Zenia insignis inhibited the decomposition of soil organic carbon, i.e., it induced the negative priming effect (the intensity of priming effect was -13.2%, -6.9%, and -22.5%, respectively). (4) The decomposition of ecological tree species leaf litter related well to leaf litter traits, litter water soluble carbon and non-structure carbohydrates content were positively correlated with the decomposition of leaf litter, whereas leaf dry mass content, cellulose and manganese concentrations were negatively associated with leaf litter decomposition. Considering all litter traits together, the combination of water soluble carbon, potassium, and calcium concentrations presented most relevant to explain the decomposition of leaf litter (R²=0.98, P<0.0001). However, we found no relationship between leaf litter traits and the intensity of soil priming effect. From the perspective of soil nutrient return, tree species with relatively fast leaf litter decomposition, such as Cornus wilsoniana wanger, Hainania trichosperma, Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, and Dalbergia odorifera could be selected for ecological restoration in degraded karst ecosystems, which contributed to soil nutrient cycling and vegetation recovery and development. From the perspective of soil carbon sequestration, the input of leaf litters such as Hainania trichosperma, Zenia insignis and Walsura robusta can slow down the decomposition of soil organic carbon, which is beneficial to enhancing the potential of soil carbon stocks in degraded karst ecosystems.