As a potential source of vegetation regeneration above ground, soil seed bank plays an important role in the natural restoration and succession process of vegetation and the restoration of ecosystems. the relationship between the changes of soil physicochemical properties and the characteristics of soil seed banks (SSBs) of plant communities at different altitudes in the low mountain area of Helan Mountain, was discussed, in order to reveal the spatial distribution characteristics and natural restoration potential of SSBS of various plant communities. The results showed that: (1) the seeds resources of SSBs at 1 200 m were from annual herbs, at 1 600 m perennial herbs, and at 2 000 m shrubs and small shrubs. With the increase of altitude, the annual herbs were the dominant species in SSBs at all five elevations. (2) The stability index, dominance index, evenness index and richness index of SSB at 1 400 m were significantly lower than those at the other four elevations, that is, the SSB diversity at 1 400 m was the lowest. (3) Soil pH and electrical conductivity were the most significant factors among physical and chemical properties that effected SBB diversity on species of seed bank. The SSB density and species diversity at five elevations in the low mountainous area of Helan Mountain were low, which could not meet the demand of natural vegetation restoration. Ecological restoration measures such as aerial seeding could be adopted to make up for the shortage of seeds in surface soil, so as to meet the provenance required for aboveground vegetation restoration.