Abstract: In this paper, the factors affecting the availability of cadmium to plant are discussed. Some aspects related to the mechanisms of cadmium toxicity to vascular plants, e.g. plant growth, photosynthesis, stomatal action, water relations, efflux of cations and enzymes activity, are reviewed. The mechanims of tolerance to cadmium in vascular plants, involving Cd accumulation and sequestration as well as Cd-binding complex, are also discussed.