Abstract: A pot trial was conducted for Dalbergia odorifera seedlings with fertilization at levels of 0, 15, 30, 60, 100 and 150 mg P per seedling in a completely randomized block design, and seedling growth performance, biomass and foliar nutrient contents were measured and analyzed. Suitable phosphorus application was finally determined for growing seedlings of this species by critical level approach. Growth and foliar nutrient of D.odorifera seedlings were studied under different levels phosphorus addition to reveal the phosphorus demand and determine the optimal phosphorus supply for its seedlings. The results showed that addition of phosphorus fertilizer could enhance growth and biomass accumulation of D.odorifera seedlings. With the increase of phosphorus supply, seedling height, root collar diameter, lead area and biomass increased first and then declined, and their peaking values occurred at the fertilizer level of 60 mg P per seedling, which were 3.07, 3.35, 49.21 and 24.25 times of those of control. P fertilization decreased foliar nitrogen and potassium contents, while increased foliar phosphorus and magnesium contents, and foliar P contents showed no significant difference among fertilization treatments of 30, 60 and 100 mg P per seedling, which were about 1.65 times of that of control. Taking parabolic relationship between seedling biomass and foliar phosphorus content, content ratios of nitrogen to potassium and phosphorus to potassium, the optimal foliar phosphorus content ranged from 1.35-2.32 g·kg^-1, and 60-100 mg P per seedling was determined as the optimal phosphorus supply for D.odorifera seedlings by critical level approach.