Three strains, designated A1, B2, and C3, capable of aerobic degradation of 4-monobrominated diphenyl ether (4-BDE) as sole carbon and energy source were originally isolated from Populus tomentosa phyllosphere. The three strains were identified as Sphingomonas, Enterobacteria, and Curtobacterium based on their morphology and molecular properties. The 4-BDE concentration gradient was set up and showed that the three strains could still survive at 500 mg L^-1 4-BDE. Their removal efficiencies were detected by utilizing GC-μECD and the analysis showed that A1, B2, and C3 were able to transform 33%, 20%, and 17% of 80 mg L^-1 4-BDE in 2d incubation, respectively. This is the first report of aerobic degradation of 4-BDE by three bacterial strains isolated from phyllosphere.