Energy plants are important resources for bioenergy. China has 1554 species of oil plants, including 154 species with oil content greater than 40% in seeds, and 30 species of shrubs or arbor plants with rich biofuel components. Most of these oil plants grow in the tropical and subtropical zones of China. The richness of oil plants decreases gradually from south to north, from east to west, as well as from lower to higher altitude. This paper focuses on the natural habitats of 10 main biofuel woody plant species and their potential for cultivation under a broad range of environmental conditions. Ecological zoning, availability of the land resources for these plants, and suggestions for developing energy plants were also discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.