A simple，controllable and feasible method to prepare gold nanoflowers(AuNFs) with a highly complex three-dimensional structure was developed by using dopamine(DA) as reducing agent and capping agent to react with gold chloride acid(HAuCl4) in 70 ℃ within 10 min.It was found that the freshness and concentration of dopamine solution were the key factors in controlling the morphology of AuNFs，while the concentration of 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) could be used to adjust the size of AuNFs，and the introduction of the common surfactants such as Triton X-100，Tween-80，CTAB could also affect the morphology of AuNFs.Because of the complex three-dimensional structure，AuNFs may have strong electric field at edges and corners，which makes AuNFs have potential applications in catalysis，photothermal therapy.