Peonies are perennials that will live for decades, even generations. Some peonies have been known to thrive for 100 years or more. The blooms are outrageously beautiful, producing lush, glossy, green foliage all summer long, turning purplish or gold in the fall. They are as stately and dignified as any shrub. They are somewhat more expensive to propagate, but well worth their cost, and you should think of them as an investment in your garden. Festiva Maxima yields large, pure white, fragrant Blooms. A cousin to our Sarah Bernhardt and Karl Rosenfield varieties. Plant all three to start building your own peony collection. In most of the country, the rules for success are simply full sun and well-drained humus-rich soil. Peonies even relish cold winters because they need chilling for bud formation. In zones 8 and higher, they are harder to grow. They are not fussy, but choose your location wisely so that they can be left alone once planted. Plant away from trees or shrubs, as peonies do not like to compete for food. The plants require little maintenance, as long as they are planted properly and establish themselves. They don't respond well to transplanting. Unlike most perennials, they thrive on benign neglect, as they do not need to be dug and divided.