Paeonia lactifloraEarly. 36" tall. Introduced in 1851.
Heavenly scented large double white flowers with a light crimson drizzle upon the central petals. Leave this one to adorn the garden; less rigid stems so not one for the vase.
Red shoots appear in spring and form a bushy clump of lustrous dark green deeply lobed foliage. Fat spherical buds on sturdy stems above the foliage gradually open into large beautiful flowers from late spring to early summer. (Ants may help the buds open so don’t discourage their presence.) May take 3-5 years to establish before blooming and resents being disturbed or left in a pot for more than one winter. Wait several years until the plants have many steps (therefore many eyes) before dividing.
Early season blooms. Z3. (bare root crowns with 3–5 eyes)
Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered
on or before March 7 will ship around March 31
through late April, starting with warmer areas and finishing in
colder areas. Orders placed after March 7 will
ship around late April through early-to-mid May, in the order in
which they were received.
ships in spring
7704
‘Festiva Maxima’
Additional Information
Herbaceous Perennial Plants
When you receive your order, open the bags and check the stock immediately. Roots and crowns should be firm and pliable. Surface mold is harmless and will not affect the plant’s future performance. Store plants in their packaging in a cool (35–40°) location until you are ready to plant. If it’s going to be awhile, you can pot up your perennials.
Do not plant bare-root perennial plant crowns directly outdoors before danger of frost has passed. Wet and/or cold conditions for an extended period may cause rotting.
Also called Chinese Peony. Reliable, long-lived hardy herbaceous perennial native from Tibet to Siberia. The red to forest-green shoots appear in mid-spring and form a bushy clump of lustrous dark green deeply lobed foliage that makes a lovely hedge or backdrop to the flower garden.
Big spherical buds on sturdy stems gradually open from late spring to early summer, transforming into huge stunning blooms. Peonies require support to keep the heavy blossoms from flopping. For long-lasting cutflowers, harvest when buds are soft like marshmallows but not quite open.
Ants on peony buds are normal, so leave them alone. While the ants collect sticky nectar, they also protect the peonies against insect pests. Before you bring cuts indoors, dunk them in a bucket of water to rinse off the ants.
Plant 2–3' apart with eyes no more than 1–1½" below the surface in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade. Plants may take 3–5 years to establish before blooming, and are sensitive to disturbance during that time. Wait several years until the plants have many stems (therefore many eyes) before dividing.
Growing Garden Peonies
Peonies prefer: full sun to part shade, and rich fertile well-drained soil.
Recommended soil amendments: compost, bone meal, Azomite.
After danger of frost, transplant 2–3' apart with the eyes no more than 1½" below the soil.
Peonies require support to prevent heavy flowers from flopping.
Autumn plant care: Cut back to just above ground level to allow a fresh start in spring. Amend soil with compost around the base of the plant.
