Abstract: Vasing physicological characteristics of cut peony flowers in various development stages and the regulating effect of fresh-keeping solution on the quality and vase life of cut flower were studied. The results showed that the vase life and the optimum ornamental period of cut peony flowers are
relatively short under distilled water (control) with the flower stage increasing from bud occuring color stage to full-blooming stage, whereas were prolonged under the floral preservative which could raise the max flower diameter and the fresh weight of flowering branches. In vase period, the water absorption and loss of flowering branches decreased continuously, and the water balance value reached the maximum at 1 day of inserting in distilled water condition. However, fresh-keeping solution could improve water status, and delay the time of hydrologic balance value going down to zero, which showed significantly positive correlation with vase life. It is therefore proposed that the optimum harvesting period of cut peony flowers is from soft bud stage to begin opening stage, and the floral preservative could improve the quality of cut
peony flowers in vase-holding.

Key words: Paeonia suffruticosa, cut flower, physicological characteristics, development stage, vase life