Peony 'Festiva Maxima' is a revered heirloom variety celebrated for its large fragrant double blooms of pure white petals accented with occasional crimson flecks. Blooming in late spring, this long lived perennial adds elegance and charm to traditional gardens.
Height & Spread: 34 - 38 in x 24 - 36 in
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Light Requirements: Full sun to part sun
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained, fertile soil enriched with compost or organic matter
Watering Needs: Moderate; provide consistent moisture during active growth and blooming
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Native Status
Introduced in the mid 1800s in Europe and remains a popular cultivar in North American ornamental gardens.
Wildlife & Insects
Butterflies
- Attracts Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Painted Ladies with its large open blooms and floral fragrance.
Bees
- Visited by native bumblebees and honeybees seeking pollen during its peak flowering season.
Beneficial Insects
- Appeals to early season pollinating beetles and hoverflies that assist with flower fertilization and ecological balance.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 24 - 36 in apart to promote air circulation and accommodate mature clump size.
Landscape Placement
- Well suited for perennial beds, cutting gardens, and classic borders where their stately blooms can be showcased.
Companion Plants
- Delphinium elatum (Larkspur) - Tall spires of blue or purple flowers provide vertical interest and complement peony blooms beautifully.
- Salvia nemorosa (Woodland Sage) - Low mounding habit and violet hues enhance the showy white flowers of 'Festiva Maxima'.
- Geranium 'Rozanne' (Hardy Geranium) - Offers a long blooming blue carpet beneath peonies while helping suppress weeds.
- Allium 'Globemaster' - Sculptural globe like blooms add late spring interest and pair elegantly with peony foliage and flowers.
- Hosta 'Francee' - Provides textured, variegated foliage contrast at the base of peony plantings in part shade areas.