Tree Peony ‘Rockii Mixed’ is a spectacular, long-lived flowering shrub producing enormous, fragrant, tissue-paper blooms in beautiful shades of white, blush pink and rose. Each flower features distinctive dark burgundy markings at the base of its petals, creating a dramatic contrast against the delicate flowers. Unlike herbaceous peonies, which die back to ground level each winter, tree peonies develop permanent woody stems, gradually forming an impressive shrub with increasingly abundant flowers year after year.
 
Flowering in late spring and early summer, Paeonia rockii is fully hardy and thrives in a sheltered, sunny or partially shaded border with fertile, well-drained soil. These magnificent tree peonies can live for decades, making them a wonderful investment for the garden. Growing from seed requires patience, with plants typically taking several years to produce their first flowers, but the reward is a truly exceptional flowering shrub. Flower colours and forms will vary between individual seedlings.
 
When to Sow: Aug–Oct
 
HOW TO SOW
Sow seeds 2.5 cm deep into pots of moist, well-drained seed compost and cover with a thin layer of grit. Place in a cold frame or sheltered outdoor position, keeping the compost moist but never waterlogged. Peony seeds have double dormancy and require alternating warm and cold periods before germination. Roots may develop before any shoots appear above the compost, so do not discard pots if nothing emerges during the first spring. Germination may take two winters. Protect pots from rodents and keep them moist throughout the process. Once seedlings have developed several true leaves, transplant carefully into individual deep pots and grow on until sufficiently established to plant out
 
Classification: Hardy Perennial
Expert Level: Experience required
Germination Time: Up to 2 years
Flowering Time: May–Jun
Site: Full sun or partial shade, sheltered from strong winds
Soil Type: Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil
Soil Acidity: Neutral, tolerates slightly acidic or alkaline soil
Moisture: Moist but well-drained
 
Care: Mulch annually with organic matter, keeping mulch away from stems. Water during dry spells while establishing and remove dead or damaged wood in late winter. Protect emerging buds from late frosts
Use: Cottage gardens, mixed borders, specimen shrubs and cut flowers
Harvesting: Cut flowers when buds are soft and beginning to open
 
Days to Maturity: Up to 5 years
Height: 100–150 cm
Plant Spacing: 150 cm