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.

Paeonia rockii is cultivated as an ornamental plant in Asia and the west.

[2] Paeonia rockii is known for the obvious black, purple, and brown-red spots at the base of petals.

In China there are several cultivar groups of these hybrids, called Gansu Mudan and Zhongyuan Mudan, or North-West Chinese cultivar group.

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