This study attempted to utilize various groundcover plants in phytoremediation, using shade plants, which often have a high shade tolerance for shade urban space. Liriope platyphylla was grown in soil containing three of heavy metals, Zn, Cd, and Pb under four different concentrations (0, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) to determine the heavy metal accumulation characteristics and removing from soil. Total amounts of accumulated Zn in L. platyphylla were increased in accordance with increasing elevated Zn concentrations in soil, but the difference was not significant between Zn250 and Zn500. Cd accumulation, sharply increased in Cd100 and Cd250, but was reduced in Cd500. Increased Pb concentration in soil resulted a continuous increase in the total amounts of Pb accumulated in L. platyphylla. The total content of Zn in soil decreased by almost 50% in Zn100, almost 33% in Zn250 and 20% in Zn500 through growth of L. platyphylla over a period of 7 months. In the case of Cd, the concentration in soil, was decreased with 10% in Cd100, 10% in Cd250 and 33% in Cd500 through growth of L. platyphylla over a period of 7 months. This results indicate that more Cd was removed by planting L. platyphylla, compared to Zn or Pb.

This study attempted to facilitate various groundcover plants, related to phytoremediation material, and advance shade plants with a heavy metal tolerance to contaminated soil in an urban shade space. Saxifraga stolonifera, which has commonly been used a landscape shade plants, was evaluated to determine its heavy metal tolerance to different concentrations(Control, 100mg․kg-1, 250mg․kg-1and 500mg․kg-1 treatment) of Cd, Pb and Zn in soil. The growth of Saxifraga stolonifera showed no significant tendency after the initial transplantation, but showed distinct changes with the respective treatment heavy metal types and concentrations over time. Especially, severe chlorosis, with more yellowish green leaves, was observed, with inhibition at Cd concentrations greater than 100mg․kg-1. Conversely, no external symptoms or growth retardation were observed with Pb and Zn concentrations less than 500mg․kg-1. Therefore, Saxifraga stolonifera can be applied as a long term phytoremediation species in soil contaminated with low concentrations of heavy metal in urban shade spaces.