Two ecotypes of Elsholtzia, Elsholtzia splendens and E. argyi, are dominant plants growing on Cu and Pb-Zn smelters, respectively. Samples of the two ecotypes and the corresponding soils from fields of a copper mining area and a Pb-Zn mining area of Zhejiang Province, China, were analyzed to investigate Cu or Zn tolerance of these two ecotypes. Effects of nine Cu levels (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 240 and 320 mg Cu L-1 as CuSO4.5H2O) on growth and uptake, translocation and accumulation of Cu in these two ecotypes were examined in a solution culture experiment. The experimental results showed that dry weights (DW) of shoots and roots were depressed, and growth of E. splendens was less depressed than that of E. argyi when treated with ≥ 5 mg Cu L-1. Concentrations of Cu in shoots of E. splendens and E. argyi exceeded 1000 mg kg-1 DW at ≥ 40 mg Cu L-1. The maximum Cu accumulated in the shoots of Cu-treated E. splendens and E. argyi reached 101 and 142 μg plant-1. Furthermore, analysis of plant samples f Two ecotypes of Elsholtzia, Elsholtzia splendens and E. argyi, are dominant plants growing on Cu and Pb-Zn smelters, respectively. Samples of the two ecotypes and the corresponding soils from fields of a copper mining area and a Pb-Zn mining area of Zhejiang Province, China, were analyzed to investigate Cu or Zn tolerance of these two ecotypes. Effects of nine Cu levels (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 240 and 320 mg Cu L-1 as CuSO4.5H2O ) on growth and uptake, translocation and accumulation of Cu in these two ecotypes were examined in a solution culture experiment. The experimental results showed that dry weights (DW) of shoots and roots were depressed, and growth of E. splendens was less depressed than that of E. argyi when treated with ≥ 5 mg Cu L-1. Concentrations of Cu in shoots of E. splendens and E. argyi exceeded 1000 mg kg-1 DW at ≥ 40 mg Cu L-1. The maximum Cu accumulated in the shoots of Cu-treated E. splendens and E. argyi reached 101 and 142 μg plant-1. Furthermore, analysi s of plant samples f