Paeonia rockii

Rock's Peony
File:Paeonia rockii 2015 G1.jpg
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
Paeonia suffruticosa subsp. rockii

File:Paeonia rockii bud 2015 G1.jpg

Bud

File:Paeonia rockii 2013 G1.jpg

Fruit

Rock's peony or tree peony (Paeonia rockii, synonym Paeonia suffruticosa subsp. rockii) is a woody species of 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).

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 a herbal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine.

Rockii peony features

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

1. Tall plant, can reach 2-3 m high, crown width 3-4 m.

2. Big and bright flower, the diameter can reach 18-25 cm.

3. Strong fragrance; the smell of one open flower can dominate that of 10 other open flowers from another Peony.

4. Resistance to drought and frost; tolerance of salt and base. Can bear temperatures as low as -43°C; 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 × suffruticosa) also belongs here.

External links

Media related to Paeonia rockii at Wikimedia Commons