The invention discloses a method for building near-natural vegetation on a tropical coral reef. According to the invention, six indigenous plants (including three types of shrub, grass and vine, and nitrogen-fixing leguminous plants) like Scaevola sericea, Canavalia maritima, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Vitex trifolia Linn var simplicifolia Clam, Phyla nodiflora and Spinifex littoreus applicable to being planted in the tropical coral reef are selected according to harsh environmental conditions of coral reefs and on the basis of preliminary investigation and research on vegetation and soil in South China Sea Islands; meanwhile, referring to plantation of natural coastal plants in Paracel Islands, and through the optimal combination of a series of processes of digging planting holes, placing farmyard base manure and coconut bran, applying a water-retaining agent, soaking bagged seedlings in water, applying a compound fertilizer, applying a little amount of iron sulfide or iron-aluminum oxides (adjusting a pH value), adding dry duckweed (increasing a C source), backfilling sand or foreign soil, performing maintenance, etc., the survival rate of the plants reaches 90% or above after about 2 months; thus, green plants can be basically covered; near-natural vegetation is formed; certain functions of preventing wind and fixing sand are exerted; meanwhile, maintenance is relatively simple.