In this paper we argue for the specific status of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, for the rationality of P. suffruticosa ssp. yinpingmudan D. Y. Hong, K. Y. Pan & Z. W. Xie and its wildness, and for the treatment of P. suffruticosa ssp. atava (Bruhl) S. G. Haw & Lauener as a subspecies of P. rockii, P. rockii ssp. atava (Bruhl) D. Y. Hong & K. Y. Pan. P. jishanensis T. Hong & W. Z. Zhao is justified as a legitimate name, while P. spontanea (Rehder) T. Hong & W. Z. Zhao is recognized as a superfluous name. Halda's four combinations and two new hybrid names in sect. Moutan DC. were treated as synonymy. As a result, one new combination is made and five new synonyms are proposed here in this paper. Key words Paeonia, Paeonia suffruticosa, Paeonia suffruticosa ssp. yinpingmudan, Paeonia rockii ssp. atava, new combination, new synonymy.