Abstract: To extend the preserving time of the cut tree peony flowers（Paeonia suffruticosa），Box-Behnken center-united experiment was designed concerning three factors（sodium alginate，citric acid and chitosan）on the basis of single-factor test. Then the response surface regression analysis was conducted to obtain the optimium ingredients of cut tree peony flowers coating antistaling agent. Results showed that the optimum proportion for the ingredients were sodium alginate 16.9 g ? L-1，citric acid 3.1 g ? L-1 and chitosan 15.3 g ? L-1. Under these conditions the fresh cut tree peonies were stored at room temperature for a week. Then the total color value（?E）was 2.11，and the water loss rate was 2.01%. Therefore，the ornamental quality of the flowers in the experimental group has been significantly improved compared with that of the control group.

Key words: tree peony, cut flower, film mulching, response surface optimization