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To examine the difference in photosynthetic traits and resource capture and use efficiency between three exotic plants (Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng, Alternanthera philoxeroides L. and Bidens pilosa L.) and three native plants (Picris divaricata Vaniot., Setaria plicata( Lam.) T. Cooke and Verbena officinalis L.), three exotic plants significantly possessed higher apparent quantum yield as compared with the two natives (P<0.05), P. divaricata and S. plicata. The two exotics, E. adenophorum and A. philoxeroides, significantly showed lower dark respiration rate compared to the three natives (P<0.05). The higher light compensation point was recorded in the two natives, P.divaricata and S. plicata (P<0.05). The three exotics significantly displayed higher maximum photosynthetic rate than that of the three natives ( P<0.05). The two exotics, E. adenophorum and A. philoxeroides, significantly exhibited lower stomatal conductance as compared to the other plants. Higher instantaneous water use efficiency was observed in the two exotics (E. adenophorum and A. philoxeroides.) compared with the two natives (P. divaricata and S. plicata). In addition, three exotics significantly had higher light resource use efficiency than that of the three natives. These results suggested the competitive advantage of the exotics over the natives at least in part from the resource capture and use efficiency and the tolerance to resource stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]