OBJECTIVE：To investigate the correlation of storage life and effective composition content with color value of Carthamus tinctorius ，and to provide reference for the quality evaluation of C. tinctorius with different years of storage. METHODS：Using 24 batches of C. tinctorius from same place of production with different years of storage （0，1，2 years，8 batches each type ）as samples ，the contents of hydroxysafflor yellow A （HSYA）and kaempferol were determined by HPLC. Color value [lightness value （L*），red-green value （a*），yellow-blue value （b*）] were determined by spectrophotometer. SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used to analyze the correlation of storage life and effective composition content with color value. RESULTS：Kaempferol content was still high after 1 year or 2 years of storage （0.161％，0.061％，respectively）. However ，the content of HSYA decreased with the prolongation of the storage life （the average content of HSYA were 2.46％，1.58％，and 1.51％ after storage 0，1 and 2 years，respectively），and the color of the drug became darker （a* value decreased ）. Results of correlation analysis showed that the content of HSYA was positively associated with color value L*，a*（r＝0.430，0.781，P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；the content of HSAY was negatively associated with storage life （r＝－0.777，P＜0.01）. There was no correlation between the remaining variables （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ：The longer the storage life ，the darker the color and the lower the content of HSYA ，so it is not suitable for over year and multiyear preservation.