Ants always hang out on my gardenia tops, they dont seem to harm it thou? anyone else ever see this?

Ants are often associated with aphid populations, especially on trees and shrubs, and often are a tip-off that an aphid infestation is present. The ants are there eating the "honeydew" or waste excrement that the aphids release. They have a "symbiotic" relationship. The ants guard and protect the aphids from predators, while the aphids unknowingly feed the ants with this honeydew. Check the leaf surface and see if there is any sticky residue on them. Turn over the leaves and see if you can spot any aphids. After a while, the honeydew will become covered with a black moldy looking soot, which is appropriately called "sooty mold". Check for this also. You may wish to spray with some "Safers" insecticidal soap, or give the bush a good hard shower with the hose to knock the aphids off. In order for you to get rid of the ant population, you are going to have to first remove the aphids. Hope this answers your question.



**Billy Ray**
Ants always hang out on my gardenia tops, they dont seem to harm it thou? anyone else ever see this?
You might check for scale insects too. Scales are common on Gardenias, they produce honeydew which ants like. You may see "sooty mold" on the lower leaves when scales are present. Ants are almost always a sign of insect activity.
Reply:Some flowers, like peonies, need ants to survive. The ants eat the gooey stuff between the unopened petals and allow them to open. I don't know if gardenias are the same, though.