Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima') in the Peonies Database

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
Awards and Recognitions:	RHS AGM
Child plants:	2 child plants

Common names

Peony
Chinese Peony
Garden Peony

Photo Gallery

Uploaded by Orsola

Location: Beautiful Tennessee
Date: spring 2013

Uploaded by chickhill

Location: Huntsville, Al
Date: 2022-04-28

Uploaded by BrookeCarrollGant

Uploaded by kniphofia

Uploaded by Green_Go

Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2007-06-19
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima')

Uploaded by adknative

Uploaded by Kanna

Uploaded by bumplbea

Location: Obelisk garden, full sun
Date: 2006-0601

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Obelisk garden, full sun
Date: 2012-0526
This peony is well over 50 years old.

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by Green_Go

Location: Chelsea Flower show. UK
Date: 2022-05-31

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2016-05-29

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Location: West Jefferson, North Carolina
Date: 2023-05-24

Uploaded by 2Dogsmother

Uploaded by mantisOH

Location: Philadelphia
Date: 04/15/2023
Year 3

Uploaded by RizzoR

Location: Wiesbaden - Germany
Date: 2014-05-11

Uploaded by Heart2Heart

Location: Obelisk garden, full sun
Date: 2011-0531

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Obelisk garden, full sun
Date: 2013-0601
Garden setting

Uploaded by pirl

Photo Courtesy of Crossview Gardens. Used with Permission.

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Green_Go

Uploaded by IAgrl

Location: My Garden, UK
Date: 2021-06-12

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Uploaded by Orsola

Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C.
Date: 2008-06-15
6:25 pm. Those red flecks top it all off.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Uploaded by Shannon

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: My Garden, UK
Date: 2022-05-22

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Location: Oregon
Date: 2020-05-23
FESTIVA MAXIMA PEONY

Uploaded by ThienLe

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Uploaded by RizzoR

Location: my front yard
Date: 2012-05-18

Uploaded by doglover

Uploaded by NHJenDion

Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C.
Date: 2008-06-07
6:58 pm. Just on the verge of bursting open.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Obelisk garden, full sun
Date: 2011-0515

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Philadelphia
Date: 04/18/2022
2nd year plant

Uploaded by RizzoR

Location: Virginia
Date: 2011-05-02
First bloom

Uploaded by Shannon

Location: southeast Ohio
Date: 2017-05-08

Uploaded by mantisOH

Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: May 16, 2014

Uploaded by RoseBlush1

Photo Courtesy of Homestead Farms Nursery. Used with Permission.

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by 4susiesjoy

Location: Aurora, Ontario
Date: 2013-06-22

Uploaded by SunnyBorders

Uploaded by RizzoR

Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-10-26
"Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima', 2017, (2-DB-W) Chinese or lactiflora [

Uploaded by frankrichards16

Uploaded by frankrichards16

Location: CZ Sirem My garden
Date: 2015-06-11

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by eyrelle

Location: West Jefferson, North Carolina
Date: 2022-05-30

Uploaded by 2Dogsmother

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: Apr 20, 2011 5:27 PM

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2015-05-28

Uploaded by plantrob

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-03-17
Newly emerging plants

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: my front yard
Date: 2013-06-03

Uploaded by doglover

Uploaded by RoseBlush1

Uploaded by RizzoR

Location: Adelman's Peony Garden, Salem, OR
Date: 2017-05-22
Full sun, 91 degrees F 32.7 degrees C

Uploaded by HighdesertNiki

Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-10-18
Peony, Festiva Maxima flower buds

Uploaded by Deebie

Uploaded by Ticker

Location: Carrie's garden, Trail, Oregon
Date: 2019-06-03
Large and Beautiful!

Uploaded by flowerpower35

Uploaded by RizzoR

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Obelisk garden, full sun
Date: 2011-0416

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by frankrichards16

Uploaded by frankrichards16

Image Courtesy of Bloomin Designs Nursery Used with Permission

Uploaded by vic

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2022-06-20
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima') blooms

Uploaded by adknative

Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2011-05-09

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by admin

Location: CZ Sirem My garden
Date: 4000-06-11

Uploaded by admin

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: may
newly emerging in spring

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Location: North Eastern Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-06-04

Uploaded by Carolyn22

Uploaded by admin

Location: National Botanical Garden (DC) | November 2022
Date: 2022-11-26

Uploaded by sedumzz

Date: 2007-01-30
Courtesy Peony Paradise

Uploaded by vic

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-03-24
Early Spring

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: My Garden, UK
Date: 2022-05-02

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Date: c. 1929
photo by D W Morden from the 1929 catalog, Mohican Peony Gardens.

Uploaded by scvirginia

Uploaded by Ticker

Uploaded by RizzoR

Uploaded by eyrelle

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Joy

This plant is tagged in:

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. "

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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

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
favorite by chickhill	Apr 15, 2014 11:32 PM	1

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Peonies Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima')

Peonies

Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima')