Abstract:In order to select the cross-combinations with better compatibility,we made reciprocal crosses in this study between Paeonia×lemoinei ‘High Noon’ (HN) and P.ostii ‘Fengdanbai’ (FDB),22 P.rockii hybrids (RHs),29 cultivars of P.×suffruticosa Zhongyuan Group and Japan Group (SUFs) from 2006 to 2011.Meanwhile,AFLP markers were employed to identify early the nature of some offsprings from crosses of HN and RHs.Main results were as followed:(1)When HN was used as male parent,FDB as female parent was fertile annually,the average setting-seed ratio was 2.88 each flower in five years,showing they are compatibility in crossing,and the fertility in crosses RHs as female parent,1 and 9 of RHs have displayed more compatibility with higher setting-seed ratio,29.17 and 26.86 each flower,respectively.(2)When HN was used as female parent,all 38 cross combinations using SUFs as male parent were almost infertile as there were only 4 seeds harvested from 4 single combinations,which indicated a very weak fertility of HN.(3)From 64 pairs of AFLP primer combination 9 pairs of primers were screened for amplification to identify the nature of 22 offsprings from the cross.The results showed clearly they are all real hybrids,most of which (86.36%) for partial maternal type,a few (13.64%) for partial male parent type.According to the above results and the characteristics of matroclinal inheritance in tree peonies,we think that FDB,1 and 9 of RHs can be recommended as female parent for crossing and introgression should be the main breeding strategy in this type of cross,but,when HN was used as female parent,it is needed to test more combinations with other various cultivars to select suitable parents for the crosses ,and suggested that AFLP markers could be practiced as an essential step in peony breeding through distant crosses to play an important role in identifying hybrids early.