In this study, Monto and Veriveria nermorlis ecotypes of vetiver grass ［Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty］ were treated with cadmium nitrate solution at different concentrations (0, 200, 800, 2 000 μmol·L^-1) for 7 days. We compared and analyzed the differences of leaf growth status, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, cadmium accumulation, subcellular distribution and chemical forms distribution between the two vetiver ecotypes to determine the tolerance and accumulation characteristics of the two types of vetiver grass to cadmium. The results showed that: (1) under middle and high cadmium concentrations, the growth status of Monto was better than that of Veriveria nermorlis, and the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F_m, F_v/F_m and F_v/F_o) of Monto were higher than those of Veriveria nermorlis, and the translocation factor, bioconcentration factor and the cadmium accumulation in the leaves and roots of Monto were lower than Veriveria nermorlis. (2) It was also found that more than 95% of accumulated Cd existed in the cell wall and soluble components of the leaves and roots of both ecotypes. The proportions of Cd in the cell wall of leaves and roots of Monto, and leaves of Veriveria nermorlis were increased with the rise of Cd concentration, and the proportions of Cd in soluble fraction were decreased gradually, while those of Veriveria nermorlis roots displayed the opposite trend. And the proportions of Cd in the cell wall of leaves of Monto were higher than Veriveria nermorlis. (3) Analysis of chemical forms of Cd distribution showed that NaClextracted Cd had the highest ratio in leaves, while ethanol and NaClextracted Cd were dominant in roots of Monto and Veriveria nermorlis. Further, a higher proportion of ethanolextracted Cd and a lower proportion of NaClextracted Cd were observed in the roots of Monto. This work can suggest that Monto was more tolerant to cadmium stress comparing to Veriveria nermorlis, which may be mainly associated with the lower Cd accumulation, bioconcentration factor and translocation factor, and higher proportions of Cd in the cell wall of leaves and higher proportions of ethanolextracted Cd in roots of Monto.