Garden folklore tells us that peonies won’t bloom without ants present to “tickle the buds”. This is entirely untrue, but it’s a charming bit of whimsy to think about. Ants are also absolutely not harmful to peony buds. 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.
