Abstract: This paper introduces the application efficacy of phytoremediation in hyarocarbon and meta1 contaminated soils，and discusses the key mechanisms of uptake，accumulation，degradation，inhibition and transformation of petroleum hydrocarbons and／or metals in plants．Problems．1imitations and key tache are also addressed．It is concluded that the degradation and inhibition of petroleum hydrocarbons in the rhizosphere of plants are the primary loss mechanism for these compounds，and stabilization and accumulation are the key processes for metal clean up．