Why Are There Ants on My Peony Flowers?
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Do peonies really need help from ants to bloom? Garden folklore says that ants “tickle the buds” to help the flowers open. Peonies and ants do have a mutually-beneficial relationship, but it’s not quite what you may think. Here’s the story about peonies and ants—plus, tips on how to bring peonies indoors without the ants.
In late spring, we rejoice in the breathtakingly beautiful peony blossoms. However, those of us with peonies in our garden may also notice the ants’ arrival, especially around the peony’s base or on unopened buds.
Are Ants Harmful to Peonies?
Let’s get this first question out of the way. No. Absolutely not. Don’t bother brushing off those ants—or, worse, breaking out the insecticide!
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Not only are ants NOT harmful, they are actually an example of biological mutualism. The peonies provide nectar (food) for the ants; the ants protect the peonies from aphids, thrips, and other non-beneficial insect pests.
Do Peonies Need Ants to Bloom?
The enduring myth is that peonies require ants to open their buds. You may have heard ants need to “tickle the buds” or “lick the sugar” for the peonies to bloom.
Nope. A peony will open beautifully without the presence of ants.
As with most folklore, there may have once been a hint of truth to this claim, but we haven’t seen evidence for it yet. (We also like this folklore because it keeps both peonies and ants alive, and allows nature to take its course!)
Why Ants Are Attracted to Peonies
Ants are simply attracted to the sugary droplets (nectar) which is present at the base of the green sepals that surround a peony bud. This is a great food source for ants, containing not only sugars, but also amino acids, lipids, and other organic compounds.
The ants are NOT eating the peonies. When a scout ant finds the nectar on the peony, she emits a pheromone or odor trail on the way back to her nest. At the nest, the scout alerts other ants of the food source. The recruited ants then follow the odor trail back to nectar on the peony flowers.
In turn, the ants actually provide the plant with some protection! While the ants are feeding on the nectar, they protect their food source by attacking other bud-eating pests by stinging, biting, or spraying them with acid and tossing them off the plant.
Also, the ants are temporary. Once the peony blossoms, the ants will leave the peony flower and move on to seek other food sources.
Again: If you do NOT have ants (perhaps you live on a rooftop), the peony blossoms would open regardless of the ants’ presence.
How to Get Rid of Ants on Peonies Before Bringing Indoors
We treasure our pink, red, and old-fashioned white peonies in the garden, but we also like to fill the house with their beauty and fragrance. However, how do we avoid bringing the ants inside, too?
There are a few methods:
- Cut the peony early in the morning when the dew is still heavy and most of the ants haven’t arrived. Hold the peonies by the stem just below the flower (so their head doesn’t snap off) and turn the flowers upside down. Give the flowers a few good taps on the stems just up from the flowers. This helps dislodge insects and arachnids. Use the amount of force appropriate for the stem.
- Fill a big bowl with cool water outside, then dip each peony bloom and watch the ants come out. Don’t fill the bowl too much, or they will be able to crawl out. Then gently shake/tap the water off the flower and put the stem into a ready vase so that they won’t pick up more ants. You can then release the ants and the water in the bowl back into nature.
Yet another method by professional growers is to cut the peony flowers before buds fully open. However, you need to cut the peony at the “marshmallow” stage (see picture above) in order for the buds to open indoors.
So now you know the story about ants and peonies! See the Almanac’s Peony Growing Guide for information on planting, varieties, and plant care.
Catherine Boeckmann
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I also have childhood memories of ants on peonies at grandma's house! I have been creating a perennial garden over the last 8 years and added my first peony last autumn. It was an impulse buy, a healthy looking specimen for $8 at my favorite nursery, with a solitary, ragged flower remaining after bloom. The only place I could fit it gets partial sun and I was concerned that might not be enough but the peony is vigorous and healthy. I had about 20 flowers this spring. I was expecting a few years before it got going but was very pleased that it gave me a great response right away. A little support for a few weeks as the blooms grew heavy, which can be removed after the flowers are gone. About half the flowers ended up in vases, most of them lasting almost a week. There were a few ants on the buds, hardly a concern. Most don't remain on the open flowers but as noted, just tap them off if necessary. The reddish shoots in early spring are exciting, grow fast, and the buds themselves are just as pretty as the opened flowers, in my opinion. The lush foliage after bloom looks stately and clean through autumn. Now I want a couple more, if I can find the space!
I'm glad to hear the ants are beneficial as well. I've never done anything about them but always wondered how I could get rid of them. Before i bring them in the house I gently shake them as well, but then I dip them in a bucket of water. It's amazing how many little ants are left floating on the top!
Peonies bloom earlier here than wherever you are. I remember as a child helping Mother and Grandmother gather the blooms to decorate graves on Memorial Day. Every year I long for a peony bush.
I am glad to hear how the ants contribute to the health of the peonies. I had thought about doing something to get rid of them, but I will leave them alone. Thanks for the information.
