Paeonia rockii

Paeonia rockii, Rock's peony, is a woody species of tree peony that was named after Joseph Rock. It is one of several species given the vernacular name tree peony, and is native to the mountains of Gansu and adjoining provinces in China. In Chinese, it is known as 紫斑牡丹 (pinyin: zǐbān mǔdān).

Paeonia rockii
Paeonia rockii flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Core eudicots
Order:
Saxifragales
Family:
Paeoniaceae
Genus:
Paeonia
Species:
P. rockii
Binomial name
Paeonia rockii
(S.G.Haw & Lauener) T.Hong & J.J.Li
Synonyms[1]
  • P. linyanshanii (S.G.Haw & Lauener) B.A.Shen nom. illeg.
  • P. linyanshanii subsp. taibaishanica (D.Y.Hong) B.A.Shen nom. illeg.
  • P. moutan subsp. atava Brühl
  • P. rockii subsp. lanceolata Y.L.Pei & D.Y.Hong nom. inval.
  • P. rockii subsp. linyanshanii (Halda) T.Hong & G.L.Osti ex X.Y.Zhu & T.Hong
  • P. rockii subsp. linyanshanii T.Hong & G.L.Osti nom. inval.
  • P. rockii subsp. taibaishanica D.Y.Hong
  • P. suffruticosa var linyanshanii Halda
  • P. suffruticosa subsp. atava (Brühl) S.G.Haw & Lauener
Bud
Fruit

Uses

Paeonia rockii is cultivated as an ornamental plant in Asia and the west. Like Paeonia lactiflora, another Chinese peony species, it is used as an herbal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine.[2]

Features

Paeonia rockii is known for the obvious black, purple, and brown-red spots at the base of petals. Its main features are:

  • Tall plant, can reach 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) high, crown width 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft).
  • Big and bright flower, the diameter can reach 18–25 cm (7–10 in).
  • Strong fragrance; the smell of one open flower can dominate that of ten other open flowers from another peony.
  • Resistance to drought and frost; tolerance of salt and base. Can bear temperatures as low as −43 °C (−45 °F); can still grow normally at pH above 7.

Rockii hybrids

Tree peony hybrids with Paeonia rockii as one parent are called Rockii hybrids. In China there are several cultivar groups of these hybrids, called Gansu Mudan and Zhongyuan Mudan, or North-West Chinese cultivar group. The European-grown Suffruticosa Group (Paeonia x suffruticosa) also belongs here.

References
  1. Hong, D.-Y. (2010), Peonies of the World, Kew Publishing and Missouri Botanical Garden, ISBN 978-1-84246-392-5CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. Halda, Josef J.; Waddick, James W. (2004). The Genus Paeonia. Timber Press. pp. 196–205. ISBN 978-0-88192-612-5.

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