'Festiva Maxima' Peony (Paeonia)
Perennial
- Pure white double flowers with frilly petals. Some petals are painted with bright red.
- This fragrant variety makes a stunning cut flower and grows on strong stems.
- Enjoy this peony mid season, blooming late spring to early summer, pair with early and late blooming varieties for a long lasting display.
- Zones 3-8, Sun to part sun, 2-3' tall and wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Chinese peony, peony
Zone: 3-8
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun), part sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 2-3' tall and 2-3' wide
Foliage color: Green , burgundy (spring), yellow (fall)
Flower color: White, red
Season of interest: Spring to early summer
Bloom time: Spring, summer
Features: Rare & unusual, rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, fragrant, deer resistant, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Cut flower, specimen, flowering hedge, border, accenting
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hours sun). Though best growing in full sun, gardeners in the south may want to consider planting peonies somewhere that allows for morning sun with afternoon shade to prevent flower fading.
Water: Average water needs.
Spacing: 24-30 inches.
Fertilizing: Peonies don't need much fertilization, so apply sparingly. If you have poor soil, consider adding compost or other organic matter in early summer after your plant has bloomed.
Winterizing: Newly planted varieties can benefit from a layer of mulch before winter arrives. Apply a light and loose layer of mulch or pine needles and remove in spring.
Maintenance & pruning: Deadhead spent flowers as soon as the flowers begin to fade and remove fallen blooms. Provide support to your plant as needed. We recommend cutting back peony stems to the ground in fall to avoid disease.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
