The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution was studied by Common Reed (CR) activated with NaOH solution of 0.5 M. CR materials obtained were characterized using XRD, SEM and FT-IR. The adsorption data were studied for adsorption isotherms of Langmuir and Freundlich models. Adsorption of Pb(II)  and Cd(II) ions was best fitted with Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pb(II)  and Cd(II) ions were 19.84 mg/g and 17.33 mg/g, respectively. Experimental data were also performed to the pseudo-first-order and pseudosecond-order kinetic models. The results indicated that the biosorption of Pb(II)  and Cd(II) ions on activated CR biomass followed well the second-order kinetics. The results indicated that CR can be used as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions in wastewater.