They run up and down the stems. Most of the time they are stuck in masses on the still closed buds. Ants like to crawl wildly when they encounter a peony that is about to bloom. But what do you want from her?

Ants love peonies and do not harm them

Sugar water that attracts ants

Just before the blossoms of the peony blossom, a slimy sugar juice drips temptingly from them. Ants are less attracted to flower color. You're keen on the sugar juice. It arises from the sepals and is crystallized. It is secreted by peonies via fine hairs, even before the flowers open.

Sometimes the amount of sugar is so great that the plant is downright sticky. If you want to use the flowers as cut flowers, you are often surprised that the flowers do not open at all - they are too sticky.

The whole thing is a little reminiscent of the well-known honeydew excretions of aphids, which ants also like to eat. But not only ants rush to feast on the sugar. Other insects also like this sugar juice.

The ants do not harm the peony

Basically, the ants (no matter how many) do not harm the peony. They are also not necessarily an indication of aphid infestation like other plants in the garden. However, it is admittedly not particularly pleasant if you want to use the flowers colonized by ants for cutting vases…

Sometimes ants spread fungal diseases

Here are a few more hints:

  • Ants can spread fungal spores
  • not infrequently they spread the spores of gray mold from one plant to another
  • aphids can also spread them
  • If necessary, fight aphids with a soft soap solution
  • Combat gray mold by removing diseased parts of the plant

With tub culture, the 'problem' does not occur

If you decide to plant your peony in a container, you will most likely not find ants on the flowers. The bucket forms a barrier. Such a bucket is usually on a balcony or terrace, where ants are rarely found.

tips

The ants also like to spread the seeds of the peony and thus contribute to natural propagation in different locations.

Category:

Vegetable garden