With the arrival of peony buds come the ants

But no, you don’t need ants for peonies to bloom. It is a myth that I have heard over and over again for years. Developing buds start to produce a sweet nectar that the ants do love. As soon as a scout ant finds the sugary peony nectar, it calls the nest for feasting with pheromones or an odor trail.

But, the ants are very important to preserving your peony blooms! The ants feed on the nectar until it is all gone, which is after the blooms are fully opened. In the meantime, the ants protect the buds and blooms from insects that would ravage them by swarming if necessary to chase damaging insects away. Thrips can be a particularly annoying insect to peony petals, discoloring and blemishing the blooms.

You really do not need to worry about the ants becoming much of a nuisance, they will all leave. But if you enjoy cut peonies in the house, ants all over the kitchen or the dining table is certainly not desirable. So when I cut peonies I hold them bloom down as I cut more, then give them a gentle shake when I have enough cut. I lay the cut flowers in the shade on the deck or sidewalk while I gather my vase and anything else I may want for my arrangement, and do all my trimming and placement outside rather than in the kitchen. I rarely wind up with ants in the house. You can also cut your peonies just before they open but timing is very important if you want the buds to open. Allow the buds to get full and fat, they should feel squishy like a marshmallow but with no petals unfurling. Ants are still easily seen and picked or shaken off at this stage. The buds should open up in a vase in a day or two.

So don’t worry about those ants, and of course don’t spray them with insecticides. Just let them do their job guarding your blooms.