We investigated the abilities of a Pb- and Cd-resistant bacterial strain (JB11) and the biodegradable chelator ethylenediamine dissociate ([S,S]-EDDS) to improve the absorption of Pb and Cd from soil by tall fescue and red clover. JB11 was isolated from contaminated soil samples and analyzed for Pb- and Cd-resistance. JB11 was identified as Pantoea agglomerans. Studies of the biological characteristics of JB11 showed that it is generally resistant to heavy metals, including Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ and that it is also resistant to antibiotics, such as ampicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Strain JB11 grows well at temperatures between 15 and 35℃, pH values of 5.0-9.0, and NaCl concentrations below 3%. The optimum temperature for JB11 is 30℃ and the ideal pH value is approximately 7.0. Tall fescue and red clover were grown in pots with soil containing Cd at 100 mg/kg, Cd at 200 mg/kg, Pb at 500 mg/kg, or Pb at 1000 mg/kg, to which were added JB11, EDDS, a combination of JB11 and EDDS, or water. Pot experiments were performed to study the effects of JB11 and EDDS on the abilities of tall fescue and red clover to take up Cd and Pb from the soil and on their growth. The amounts of biomass produced by tall fescue and red clover were significantly higher in the JB11 treatments than in the untreated control plants. The Pb and Cd concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the JB11-treated plants than in the control plants, with the exception of the Pb concentration in the above-ground parts of tall fescue growing in soil containing Pb at 1000 mg/kg, the Cd concentration in the above-ground parts of red clover growing in soil containing Cd at 200 mg/kg, and the Cd concentrations in tall fescue and red clover roots in soil containing Cd at 100 mg/kg. The Pb and Cd concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the EDDS-treated plants than in the control plants, with the exception of the Pb concentrations in the tall fescue roots in soils containing Pb at 500 mg/kg. The Pb and Cd concentrations in the tall fescue and red clover increased in response to the combined EDDS and JB11 treatment. The amounts of Pb and Cd absorbed by the plants were higher in most of the combined (1:1) EDDS- and JB11-treated plants than in the plants treated with only EDDS or only JB11. JB11 is Pb- and Cd-resistant, and its application to the soil improved the net uptake of Pb and Cd from the soil by the experimental plants. There is, therefore, great potential for viable phytoremediation using JB11.