A method for extracting herbacetin from plants of Rhodiola L., comprising the following steps: 1) performing an extracting process for the pulverized medical Rhodiola L. with an extracting solvent, and condensing to obtain an extract； 2) performing a leaching process for the extract and performing an acid hydrolysis for the extracted aqueous layer； 3) performing a leaching process for the solution after the acid hydrolysis with an organic solvent, combining the organic layer and concentrating under reduced pressure to obtain a herbacetin extract； 4) treating the herbacetin extract through polyamide column chromatography, collecting the outflow containing herbacetin and drying through condensation to obtain a crude herbacetin product； 5) treating the crude herbacetin product through reverse-phase silica-gel column chromatography, collecting the outflow containing herbacetin, drying through condensation and recrystallizing to obtain a pure herbacetin product. The invention for herbacetin preparation is characterized by simple process, high yield.
