Paeonia lactiflora Festiva Maxima

Paeonia 'Festiva maxima' is a beautiful variety of Chinese peony. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with double white and fragrant flowers. It holds up well in flowerbeds and is also perfect for making bouquets.

The delicate and abundant flowering of this peony consists of very double flowers appearing between May and June, measuring no less than 16cm (6in) in diameter, pure white with a fine carmine red edge and slightly fragrant.

Flowering for almost a month, the 'Festiva Maxima' peony forms a one metrr tall bush, with abundant green foliage.

It can be used in various ways near the house, on a terrace or along a path. It is a reliable choice in flowerbeds; in a white garden it can be combined with Hesperis matronalis 'Alba', Holcus mollis 'Variegata' and 'Green Spice' heucheras, with some Chionanthus virginicus in the background, to create a dream in white!

The Paeonia genus, which includes about thirty species, is native to China, Tibet or Siberia. The type species Paeonia lactiflora is now rare in cultivation as it has been replaced by numerous hybrids. Chinese peonies are herbaceous species of peony, along with garden peonies (Paeonia officinalis). They prefer a deep, well-drained, slightly acidic and humus-rich soil, in a sheltered and sunny location. Avoid planting them in dry, rocky and highly alkaline soil. There are also shrub species called Tree Peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa), which have slightly different cultivation requirements.