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Key characteristics

Height: 72 inches tall
Width: 48 inches wide
Flower color: White, cream, or pale pink with a deep maroon or purple basal flare
Foliage color: Dark green divided foliage; sometimes glossy; young shoots may show reddish tones
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low to moderate; prune only to remove dead wood; cut spent flowers; seldom requires division
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Fragrant blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; deer resistant

Shrubs

Paeonia rockii

Rock Peony

Paeonia rockii is a woody shrub peony native to the mountainous regions of China, blooming in mid-spring with large, fragrant flowers. Each single bloom features white or pale pink petals with a dark maroon blotch at the base and a center of golden stamens. The flowers appear on sturdy woody stems, followed by lush, pinnate foliage that remains attractive through summer.

First documented by Joseph Rock in the early 20th century, this species is known for its hardiness and drought tolerance.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Borders
Cut Flower Gardens
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Spirea · Feather reed grass · Catmint · Shasta daisy · Candytuft · Ornamental onion

Design tip

Give Paeonia rockii a prominent position where its large spring flowers can serve as a seasonal focal point, while allowing enough space for its woody framework to mature naturally. Limit pruning to dead wood so the plant retains the strong structure that gives it year-round presence.