Are Ants Harmful To Peonies?

Ants are attracted to peonies due to their sweet taste and the presence of sugary nectar droplets around the green outer part of the flower. This common occurrence is often believed to be necessary for peony flowers to fully develop, but this is not true. Ants do not harm peonies and are part of a natural process, but they can be a nuisance when cut flowers are brought indoors.

The big question is whether ants are dangerous to peonies in your border. The answer is no. Ants do not cause any damage to peonies, and they do not eat your flowers or the sticky sugars they secrete. Once the flower opens fully and sucrose has been consumed, the ants depart. The benefit to the peony is that ants readily defend their food source and will actively remove other insects. While ants harvest the nectar present, other insects may cause damage as they feed.

Ans do not harm the plants, and the plants do not require ants to open. The ants do not harm the peony flowers and they defend the plant from attack by harmful, sap-sucking, petal-chewing insects. The peonies provide nectar (food) for the ants, and the ants readily defend their food source and will actively remove other insects. Ants love peonies, and peonies love them right back.

Some gardeners assume that ants are harming their peonies and must be removed. In reality, the peony plants are not harmful to ants, as they provide an easy, high-energy food source and suffer less damage to their reproductive organs. Understanding how to keep ants off peonies can enhance the overall health of the plants.