Data specific to Peonies (Edit)
Originator/Registrant: Miellez
Year of Registration or Introduction: 1851
Cultivar Group (Type): Lactiflora
Season of bloom: Early (week 2)
Flower Form: Full Double
Flower Color: White
Flower color description: White, with prominent crimson flakes on a few central petals
Needs support: No

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 7b
Plant Height: 24-36 inches
Plant Spread: 24-36 inches
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Uses: Cut Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Will not come true from seed
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Various insects
Child plants: one child plant

Image
Common names
  • Peony
  • Chinese Peony
  • Garden Peony

Photo Gallery
Location: In my garden. Poland.
Location: Beautiful Tennessee Date: spring 2013
Location: Obelisk garden, full sun Date: 2006-0601
Date: 2019-06-25
Location: Eagle Bay, New York Date: 2007-06-19 Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima')
Date: 2019-06-25
Location: My Garden, UK Date: 2021-06-12
Location: Obelisk garden, full sun Date: 2012-0526 This peony is well over 50 years old.
Location: My Garden, Utah Date: 2016-05-29
Photo by kniphofia
Photo by mantisOH
Location: my front yard Date: 2012-05-18
Location: Obelisk garden, full sun Date: 2011-0531
Location: Obelisk garden, full sun Date: 2013-0601 Garden setting
Date: 2019-06-25
Location: Wiesbaden - Germany Date: 2014-05-11
Location: My Garden, UK Date: 2022-05-22
Location: Oregon Date: 2020-05-23 FESTIVA MAXIMA PEONY
Location: My Garden, Utah Date: 2016-05-29
Location: So. NH Date: 2011-06-06
Location: 52404 Date: 2018-09-15
Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C. Date: 2008-06-07 6:58 pm. Just on the verge of bursting open.
Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C. Date: 2008-06-15 6:25 pm. Those red flecks top it all off.
Date: 2012-04-21
Date: 2012-05-29
Date: 2012-05-29
Location: Obelisk garden, full sun Date: 2011-0515
Photo Courtesy of Crossview Gardens. Used with Permission.
Location: southeast Ohio Date: 2017-05-08
Location: Mountains of northern California Date: May 16, 2014
Location: In my garden. Poland.
Location: In my garden. Poland.
Location: In my garden. Poland.
Location: My Garden Date: 2013-06-29
Location: Aurora, Ontario Date: 2013-06-22
Location: Philadelphia Date: 05/29/2021
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236 Date: 2017-10-26 "Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima', 2017, (2-DB-W) Chinese or lactiflora [
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236 Date: 2017-10-26 "Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima', 2017, (2-DB-W) Chinese or lactiflora [
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236 Date: 2017-10-26 "Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima', 2017, (2-DB-W) Chinese or lactiflora [
Location: Philadelphia Date: 04/18/2022 2nd year plant
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 2015-06-11
Location: Indiana Zone 5 Date: may newly emerging in spring
Location: Upstate New York
Location: Indiana Zone 5 Date: Apr 20, 2011 5:27 PM
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Date: 2015-05-28
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2014-03-17 Newly emerging plants
Location: Virginia Date: 2011-05-02 First bloom
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2014-03-24
Location: my front yard Date: 2013-06-03
Location: Mountains of northern California Date: May 16, 2014
Location: Philadelphia Date: 04/06/2022
Location: Adelman's Peony Garden, Salem, OR Date: 2017-05-22 Full sun, 91 degrees F 32.7 degrees C
Location: Orangeburg, SC Date: 2015-10-18 Peony, Festiva Maxima flower buds
Location: Carrie's garden, Trail, Oregon Date: 2019-06-03 Large and Beautiful!
Location: Philadelphia
Photo Courtesy of Homestead Farms Nursery. Used with Permission.
Location: Philadelphia
Location: In my garden. Poland.
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2013-03-20
Date: 2012-05-29
Location: Obelisk garden, full sun Date: 2011-0416
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2013-02-26
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236 Date: 2017-10-26 "Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima', 2017, (2-DB-W) Chinese or lactiflora [
Image Courtesy of Bloomin Designs Nursery Used with Permission
Date: 2009-05-16
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI Date: 2011-05-09
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI Date: 2011-05-09
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 2015-06-11
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 4000-06-11
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 4000-06-11
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 4000-06-11
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 4000-06-11
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 4000-06-11
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 4000-06-11
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 2015-06-11
Location: North Eastern Pennsylvania Date: 2011-06-04
Location: CZ Sirem My garden Date: 4000-06-11
Date: 2007-01-30 Courtesy Peony Paradise
Location: Plano, TX Date: 2014-03-24 Early Spring
Photo by Ticker
Photo by Ticker
Location: In my garden. Poland.
Location: Upstate New York
Location: My Garden, UK Date: 2022-05-02
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Deebie (midstate South Carolina - Zone 8a) on Apr 20, 2014 7:41 PM concerning plant:
    This is one of the few early blooming varieties that grows well in the South. Its double flowers are full and beautiful. Be sure to use plant supports for these flowers as the stems will bend/break because of the weight of the blooms, especially when it's wet.
    1 reply
  • Posted by TexasPlumeria87 (Plano, TX - Zone 8a) on Jan 5, 2013 6:08 AM concerning plant:
    The winters can be very mild here, so I rarely see blooms.
    14 replies
  • Posted by frankrichards16 (Clinton, Michigan - Zone 5b) on Apr 12, 2018 10:14 AM concerning plant:
    "Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima', (2-DB-W) lactiflora cultivar Peony, (Miellez, 1851), USDA Hardiness Zone 2, Medium height, very large flowers, white petals, crimson markings on center petals, fragrant, early bloomer, Michigan Bloom Month 5-6.

    An old reliable white, an heirloom. Often has center petals that are splashed, streaked, and/or edged with crimson. Some reports that it is a good cut flower, while others say it does not last. "
    Reply to this comment
Plant Events from our members
NikkiGerena On June 2, 2017 Transplanted
carpathiangirl On April 5, 2019 Obtained plant
root planted
RachaelHunter On May 22, 2022 Bloomed
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Discussion Threads about this plant
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favorite by chickhill Apr 15, 2014 11:32 PM 1

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