Ants on peonies are part of the deal. The ants are actually consuming the exudate from the buds. If you plant peonies the ants might be less likely to venture into you home... now there's a thought! :) The ancient chinese actually considered that the gentle touch of the ants was what coaxed forthe the lovely flowers that peonies are known for. I love that story but I'm "cool" with ants. ;) If the flowers are "doubles" you do have to stake them or they'll wind up in the mud after a rain. But, for me, that's a small price for those wonderful flowers and the SMELL. Best of all, there is virtually nothing that eats them or to which they fall prey. Botrytis is more a matter of good culture than anything else. The foliage is impeccable all season long and pairing them with bulbs is a quick way to cover up ripening bulb foliage. The pink buds and the lovely red of emerging foliage is a sumptuous spring treat. Peonies are the Ronco Grills of the plant world... "set it and forget it". It doesn't get any better than that in my book.

I live in ant heaven and I've never seen them on or around my hydrangeas.....yg

It's odd this question come up, because i had one of my elderly patients tell me the other day when i was talking about my peonies that for whatever reason they must have ants to live...never heard of that before. Does anyone know about this? She says it is necessary for the plant? maybe it is just an old wives tale.

Have you tried adding used coffee grounds to the soil around the peonies? Any non-flavored will do, I know Starbucks here will give used grounds away and the ants don't like it at all. And the ants really don't help the peonies open, they'll be fine with or without them! You should be able to just sprinkle the dry grounds in your peony beds on top of mulch (it'll wash down with the sprinklers or rain) or scratch it in to compost or soil, use it like any other amendment.