In field survey, Pteris vittata and Pityrogramma calomelanos were only found in arsenic (As) contaminated areas with soil pH 7.2–8.8 and 2.3–4.2, respectively. In the first pot experiment, two fern species were grown on the soil amended with 300 mg kg⁻¹ As at soil pH of 5.1, 7.2 and 9. P. calomelanos survived all pH treatments, and had the highest frond As concentration and soil As removal efficiency at soil pH 5.1. All P. vittata plants were dead at soil pH 5.1. P. vittata had higher frond As concentration, biomass and the amount of As removed from the soil than those of P. calomelanos at soil pH of 7.2 and 9. In the second pot experiment, P. vittata was demonstrated to have greater life time, biomass, As tolerance and accumulation than those of P. calomelanos as planted on alkaline soil (pH 7.8) spiked with various concentrations of As.