Effects of Pb on the growth, the uptake and accumulation of lead(Pb), zinc(Zn), copper(Cu), cadmium(Cd)and chloroplast ultrastructure of Iris lactea var. chinensis were studied by pot-culture experiments of the soil treated with single Pb and that treated with mixed Pb and Zn tailings. The results showed that the seedling height, root length, leaf number, shoot and root biomass of I. lactea var chinensis were all increased first and then dropped in two different soil treatments. The seedling height and root length of the plant were increased under lower single Pb treatment(≤500 mg/kg )and slightly decreased(P>0.05)under 800 mg/kg Pb in single Pb experiment. Compared with soil of single Pb stress, the soil mixed Pb and Zn tailings also displayed a promoting effect on the height and root length of Iris lactea var. chinensis when Pb and Zn tailings in soil below a certain concentration. Only under the treatment of 100% tailing the shoot and root biomass of I. lactea var chinensis were decreased significantly compared with that of control(P<0.05). The Pb contents both in shoots and roots were enhanced with increasing Pb and tailing concentrations in the soil. The leves of Pb in shoots and roots reached 340.6 mg/kg and 1700.02 mg/kg, respectively, in 800 mg/kg Pb treatment, and which reached 126.9 mg/kg and 1725 mg/kg, respectively, in 100% tailings treatment. The contents of Zn accumulated in shoots of the plant were decreased with an increase of Pb under single Pb stress, expressing as an antagonistic effect. However, the absorption of Zn was increased as the increasing of Pb accumulation in mixed contaminated tailings stress, expressing as a synergistic effect. In contrast, the uptake of Cu and Cd are relatively small. In this study, the chloroplast double membrane and its internal grana and thylakoid structure were almost without change compared with the control under 800 mg/kg Pb and 50% tailings stress. These results indicated that I. lactea var chinensis was a strong Pb tolerant species and had the potential to remediate Pb contaminated soils.