We consider the problems of C¹ approximation of functions by polynomial solutions and by solutions with localized singularities of homogeneous elliptic second-order systems of partial differential equations on compact subsets of the plane ℝ². We obtain a criterion of C¹-weak polynomial approximation which is analogous to Mergelyan’s criterion of uniform approximability of functions by polynomials in the complex variable. We also discuss the problem of uniform approximation of functions by solutions of the above-mentioned systems. Moreover, we consider the Dirichlet problem for systems that are not strongly elliptic and prove a result on the lack of solvability of such problems for any continuous boundary data in domains whose boundaries contain analytic arcs.