Peonies are putting on quite a show right now, but every year we get quite a few questions about peonies and ants, so let’s talk about peonies and whether those ants are good or bad.

First off, peonies do really well here and believe it or not, cold winters help them. For peonies to be able to break dormancy in the spring bloom, they need to spend some time below 40 degrees. But they can take it colder as they are able to survive winter temperatures of minus 50 degrees. Let’s hope that never happens here.

Peonies have been grown and cultivated for more than 2000 years and are native to Asia, Europe, and Western-North America. Somewhere around 1800, the cultivated varieties made their way to the United States.

Another great thing about peonies is their longevity. It’s not uncommon for peony plants to live for 50 years with some varieties making it to the 100-year mark. So, if you are looking for a perennial you can enjoy for years, peonies are a great choice.

Peonies like well-drained, loamy soil. If your soil has a high clay content, consider amending the soil with organic matter or compost for greater success.

Peonies prefer full sun but can tolerate a little shade. Just know that newly planted peonies probably won’t bloom for a couple of years as it takes them time to get well established in their new home. If after two years you are still not getting blooms, try moving them to a location that gets more sun, just know that this will reset the blooming clock for another 2 years.

Another common mistake that is made when planting peonies is planting them too deep. When planting, be sure the crown of the plant is not more than two inches below the surface. If they are planted too deep, you will get lots of green leaves, but no flowers. Be sure not to over fertilize, as this will inhibit blooms also. Speaking of fertilizer, you will only need to fertilize every couple of years.

One challenge many peony plants face is the they can struggle with powdery mildew. If this becomes a problem, you’ll likely notice some small white spots at first but eventually, powdery mildew can make the entire plant look like it was dusted with flour.

To lower the risk for powdery mildew, make sure not to overcrowd your peonies. Good airflow works to minimize the opportunity for powdery mildew. It they do develop powdery mildew, start a treatment program with a fungicide like copper fungicide and at the end of the season cut them to the ground and remove all the infected debris.

Now about those ants. There’s lots of misinformation about peonies needing ants to help them bloom. Peonies can bloom just fine without the ants. The ants are attracted to the nectar the flower buds excrete before blooming. That’s about it for the ants, except that it’s also possible that the presence of ants may help deter other non-beneficial insects.

So, if you are looking for a long-lasting plant that produces beautiful flowers year after year, go out and get some peonies. Good luck.

You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, dropping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th Street, or by emailing us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org. Photo: Tom Ingram