“it’s perfectly normal ,” says mrgich, “theyre not bothering the plant. ” she assures that ants won’t kill the peony, chew holes in the leaves, or damage the flowers. · peonies and ants do have a mutually beneficial relationship, but it’s not quite what you may think. · ants and peonies have a symbiotic relationship. Experts suggest that ants aid in pest prevention, which protect peonies as they begin to bloom. · learn how to get ants off peonies with natural methods, barriers, and aphid control for a healthy, pest-free garden. Though ants do not play a role in peonies ability to bloom, they are beneficial to the plants. According to reynolds, peonies produce sweet nectar in their flower buds, attracting ants. When they’ve removed all the nectar or when the plant stops blooming, they will trot off to find another source of food. As they are not harmful and remain on the flowers for a short amount of time, insecticidal is not necessary. In return, ants protect the peonies from predators such as thrips and other harmful insects—a win-win for the insect and the flower. · the presence of ants on peonies is only temporary. Peony flowers provide food for ants and in turn, the ants protect the blossoms from other floral-feeding insects. Here’s the story about peonies and ants —plus, tips on how to bring peonies indoors without the ants. · so is there any truth to this myth? · at first glance, seeing so many ants on your peonies can be alarming. · the relationship between peonies and ants is a type of mutualism in which two organisms of different species benefit from the activity of one another. However, don’t worry—they’re not causing any harm. Do peonies need ants to bloom?
