Field Discovery and Evaluation of Native Spontaneous Plants for Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Sustainable Phytoremediation Potential for Mining Wastelands

Heavy metal pollution in mining wastelands poses a serious threat to soil quality and ecosystem sustainability, particularly in cold-climate regions where phytoremediation efficiency remains poorly understood. The present study aims to determine the risk of heavy metals in soils and the phytoremediation potential of native dominant spontaneous plants in lead–zinc mining wasteland and located in a cold region characterized by harsh winters and heavy snowfall. Soil samples ( n = 60) and plant tissues ( n = 84) were collected across the study area, and the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu in rhizosphere soils and plant tissues were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated to evaluate plant metal enrichment and transport capacities. The results revealed that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu were at a relatively high potential ecological hazard level in the tailing ponds and surrounding areas. Field surveys showed that indigenous dominant spontaneous plants were better adapted to the harsh climatic conditions and poor soil matters than non-native plants, making them more economical and reliable candidates for phytoremediation. The study unexpectedly identified Commelina communis as a Cu phytostabilization candidate and found several metal-enriching plant species ( n = 6), including Scirpus , Typha , Carex , Artemisia , Commelina , and Polygonum . The results can serve as a basic plant resource database for government institutions related to natural, ecological, and environmental sustainable management, offering new insights into self-sustaining phytoremediation strategies and sustainable ecological restoration in cold-region mining areas.