[Objective] The pollution characteristics and risk assessments of heavy metals in soils of different Pogostemon cablin production areas in Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were analyzed, in order to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution.[Methods] The Pogostemon cablin and corresponding root zone soil in representative production areas were collected to analyze both of the total and available content of heavy metals, including Cu, Hg, As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn. The pollution characteristics and risk assessments of heavy metals in Guangdong and Guangxi were compared by methods of single-factor pollution risk index and Nemerow-factor pollution risk index. The enrichment coefficient of heavy metals together with the correlation of heavy metals in soil and Pogostemon cablin were investigated to expound the effects of soil heavy metals pollution on the safety of Pogostemon cablin.[Results] ① The risk of heavy metal pollution in the soils of Pogostemon cablin in both Guangdong and Guangxi have reached the warning level, while the heavy metal pollution in the soils of Pogostemon cablin in Guangxi is even higher than Guangdong. The Cd pollution of Pogostemon cablin soil is most widespread with the highest value (0.95) of the average single-factor risk index, which needs more attention. ② The overall situation is safe since the content of every heavy metal in Pogostemon cablin is lower than the corresponding limit value in the Chinese pharmacopoeia. ③ Pogostemon cablin has a weak ability to absorb As, Hg, Cu and Pb, but its stem tends to accumulate Cd which is not affected by soil differences. The accumulation of Cd in leaf is more evident compared with stem.[Conclusion] The prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in the soils of Pogostemon cablin production areas should focus on the control of available content of Cd.