Stephanotis floribunda is a fabulous fragrant flower vine. It’s often wreathed around hoops for indoor growing, and does an excellent job decorating walls and arbors outside wherever it doesn’t get too cold.
Stephanotis floribunda key facts:
Name – Stephanotis floribunda
Common Names – Madagascar jasmine, creeping tuberose
Family – Apocynceae
Type – fragrant flower vine
Height – 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5+ meters)
Exposure – lots of light
Soil – soil mix, proper drainage
Hardiness – 50-55°F (10-13°C) – Foliage – evergreen – Flowering – May-October
Stephanotis floribunda isn’t hardy at all. Whenever temperatures drop to 50°F (10°C), the vine goes dormant and stops growing; any colder and it starts dying. One way around this problem: grow it in a pot!
A container or pot is best, so that you can bring your Stephanotis floribunda indoors when autumn chills roll about.
S. floribunda is native to Madagascar. It requires temperatures of at least 68°F (20°C) year-round to thrive.
The vine prefers climates where winter is slightly cooler than summer, marking a time of dormancy.
Frost will kill the vine. Bring the pot indoors in a lean-in or greenhouse.
Full-time indoor plants will appreciate a time of rest during winter months. Transfer them to a cooler spot, around 60°F/15°C, if possible, from November to March.
In winter, water your potted Stephanotis only when the soil is dry, without adding fertilizer.
If temperatures drop below 50°F / 10°C, it’ll take a miracle for your Stephanotis floribunda to survive.
Water regularly but not too much, since roots can’t take wallowing in water for very long.
Stephanotis requires a lot of moisture because its natural habitat is forest underbrush.
Blooming on Stephanotis floribunda usually lasts from May to October-November.
After the blooming is over, let the plant go dormant: place it in a cooler but well-lit room.
During the dormancy, stop giving it fertilizer. Only water if the soil in the pot is dry.
Prune the vine in early spring, as much as you want. Pruning triggers lush growth and ensures it will bloom again.
If you can reach them, go ahead and remove dead flowers. This will lead the plant to bloom again.
It’s common in the tropics, but even in temperate climates you might discover an egg-shaped pod forming on the vine. It’s a fruit! See what you can do with it here: Stephanotis floribunda seeds.
Yellowing leaves? Insects and pests? White masses forming on leaves? Worse yet – no flowers?
Dealing with pest, disease, and blooming issues for Stephanotis floribunda
As its common name shows, this Stephanotis is native to Madagascar, where it can be found outdoors in the wild among other plants in forest underbrush. It is used under temperate climates as an indoor plant.
Madagascar jasmine is a vine that bears thick dark green leaves. It flowers from spring to fall from stems attached to leaf nodes.
Usually, you need a trellis or a stake to help it grow because it cannot stand upright on its own.
Stephanotis floribunda is one of several Stephanotis species. It’s a flower famous for its fragrance.
Add flower plant fertilizer to enhance its bloom.
