Abstract <p>To evaluate how soil conditions influence the intrinsic quality of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA), we quantified six organic components in root, 15 trace elements in root, root-bark, and rhizosphere soil and recorded soil physicochemical properties sourced from Jinhua, Zhejiang (HPRA), Bozhou, Anhui (BPRA), and Zhongjiang, Sichuan (CPRA). HPRA showed the highest total content of the six organic components, whereas the total amount of the 15 elements in root, root-bark, and soil was consistently largest in BPRA. Among the components studied, regional differences were small for paeoniflorin, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Se, Co, Ni, and Cr. Translocation from root-bark to root was comparatively high for Zn, Sr, Ni, Se and Cu, and both root and root-bark displayed a strong capacity to accumulate Se from soil. Cr and Hg in soil were related to paeoniflorin in root; while increasing Mo in soil was accompanied by higher oxypaeoniflorin in root; and pH and electrical conductivity in soil significantly affected PRA composition. Across the three origins, trace elements and organic components in root were generally negatively correlated, indicating predominantly antagonistic relationships. For safety, Cu, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in roots did not exceed limits in the Green Trade Standard for Medicinal Plants and Preparations (WM/T2-2004), although Cu, Pb, Cd, and As exceeded limits in some root-bark samples; root-bark removal prior to clinical use is therefore recommended. In rhizosphere soil, Zn, Pb, As, and Cd exceeded Chinese agricultural soil risk-screening values (GB/T 15618-2018), emphasizing the need for coordinated monitoring of soil and PRA.</p>