A yellow-coloured bacterial strain, designated HB2(T), isolated from stratum water was investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-flagellated and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain was a member of the genus Luteimonas, its three closest neighbours being Luteimonas aquatica BCRC 17731(T) (97.5% similarity), Luteimonas marina JCM 12488(T) (97.3%) and Luteimonas aestuarii DSM 19680(T) (96.9%). Strain HB2(T) could clearly be distinguished from these type strains based on phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, fatty acid composition and a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data that strain HB2(T) represents a novel species of the genus Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas huabeiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HB2(T) ( =DSM 26429(T) =CICC 11005s(T)).