Abstract: To screen drought and salt resistant flower plants, two experiments were conducted. Drought stress was applied during the seed germination and seedling periods of 10 species from Asteraceae, using PEG6000 solution and potting water control method. Meanwhile, salt stress was processed using NaCl solution. The index of seed germination, the relative permeability of plasma membrane and the activity of antioxidant enzymes of the seedlings were measured. Drought resistance and salt resistance of all the species were evaluated with the method of membership function. The results showed that all measured indices changed significantly under drought or salt stress. Under both drought and salt stresses, the relative conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased, with the magnitude of enhancement in the species with stronger resistance being smaller. The activities of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) differed among species. The drought resistance of different species ranged from strong to weak as following: Cosmos bipinnata>Tagetes erecta >Dahlia pinnatecv. >Cosmos sulphureus> Brachycome iberdifolia>Helianthusannuus >Helichrysum bracteatum > Centaurea cyanus >Gazania rigens> Dimorphotheca sinuata; salt resistance from strong to weak: Cosmos bipinnata>Cosmos sulphureus > Dahlia pinnate cv. >Tagetes erecta>Brachycome iberdifolia> Centaurea cyanus > Helianthus annuus >Helichrysum bracteatum> Gazania rigens>Dimorphotheca sinuata.

Key words: climate change, cranes, priority protection area., suitable habitat