Festiva Maxima flowers are enormous, attractive loose rose-double in form, and garbed in white with crimson flecks distinguishing the most central petals. Fragrance is intoxicating, pervasive and sweet. Stems are tall and of reasonable strength, but best viewed with some structural support in the landscape.  It takes at least two to three years for a young peony plant to get established, but once it has settled in, it will bloom reliably year after year. Peonies are fantastic cut flowers. They last for days in a vase and most varieties are fragrant.