Two green emitting phosphors, Ba3Tb(BO3)3 and Ba3Tb(BO3)3 ∶Ce3+, are synthesized by the high temperature solid-state method, and their luminescent characteristics are investigated. Ba3Tb(BO3)3 phosphor shows several emission peaks located at 439, 493, 547, 589 and 629 nm separately. The emission peaks correspond to the 5D3→7F4 and 5D4→7FJ=6. 5, 4, 3 transitions of Tb3+, respectively, and the maximal peak is 547 nm. For the 547 nm emission, the excitation spectrum consists of several bands, and the maximal peak is located at 380 nm. The Ce3+-activated Ba3Tb(BO3)3 phosphor is studied, and the result shows that the emission spectrum distribution of Ba3Tb(BO3)3 ∶Ce3+ is the same as that of Ba3Tb(BO3)3 phosphor, however, its emission intensity is higher than that of Ba3Tb(BO3)3,which is attributed to the sensitizing action of Ce3+ on Tb3+ in Ba3Tb(BO3)3. For the 547 nm emission, the excitation spectrum of Ba3Tb(BO3)3 ∶Ce3+presents a broad band, differing from that of Ba3Tb(BO3)3 phosphor. The effect of H3BO3 on the emission intensity of Ba3Tb(BO3)3 ∶Ce3+ phosphor is investigated, and the results show that the emission intensity can reach a maximum for 15 wt% excessive H3BO3. All the results show that Ba3Tb(BO3)3 ∶Ce3+ is a green emitting phosphor for white LED.