In this study, we treated the seedlings of Ardisia gigantifolia by 8 different light qualities, red light (R), blue light (B), red∶blue=2∶1 (R₂B₁), red∶blue=4∶1 (R₄B₁), red∶blue=6∶1 (R₆B₁), red∶blue=8∶1 (R₈B₁), purple light (P) and green light (G), and with natural light as control (CK), to explore the response of growth and development of A. gigantifolia to different light quality, to improve the quality of seedlings and the content of medicinal ingredients, providing reference for the cultivation and protection of precious medicinal plants. The results were as follows: (1) the height of seedling was reached the maximum value under R treatment, while the ground diameter, fresh weight and dry weight were reached the highest maximum values under R₂B₁ treatment. (2) Chlorophyll content in the leaves of A. gigantifolia was the highest under B and the lowest under G treatment. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents increased gradually with the increase of blue light ratio in redblue composite light. (3) The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and free proline were the highest under G treatment, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were improved under B treatment and appropriate proportion of red and blue combined light treatment. (4) Different treatments had significant effects on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of A. gigantifolia. The highest values of maximum photochemical efficiency(F_v/F_m) and effective photochemical efficiency ［Y(Ⅱ)］ were in the treatment of R₂B₁, and the highest value of photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) was in the treatment of B, but there was no significant difference with R₂B₁. The nonphotochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) was higher in R₈B₁ and G treatment, and there was no significant difference between them. (5) Although the content of saponins was the highest under B treatment, the R₂B₁ treatment was more beneficial to improve saponins yield per plant. (6) It was concluded that R₂B₁, B and R₄B₁ were significantly better than CK, and R₂B₁ treatment was the best beneficial to improve the quality and content of active components of A. gigantifolia, shorten the incubation period, and achieve efficient production and utilization.