In this study, we investigated the adaptability of Ruellia simplex in three kinds of mining wasteland (quarry rock, manganese tailing slag, and improved red mud), and analyzed its physiological characteristics and growth by comparing the three methods of bare-root colonization, water-protecting mats colonization and bag planting. The results showed that: the Ruellia simplex did not die after 100 days of growth on the three substrates; the bare-root colonization on the improved red mud was the worst growth condition due to the strong alkali effect, while the quarry rock was the best growth environment due to its high organic matter content; the bag planting and water-protecting sponges colonization could significantly improve the organic matter of the substrate and reduce the pH of the improved red mud compared with the bare-root colonization; the Ruellia simplex were suitable for ecological restoration of the three kinds of wasteland, and the best growth environment was the quarry rock, and the best growth environment was the quarry rock. The best growing environment was quarry rock, the worst was improved red mud, and manganese tailing slag was in the middle; the best planting method was bag planting, followed by water-protecting sponge planting, and bare-root planting was the most ineffective.