STEPHANOTIS

STEPHANOTIS FLORIBUNDA

In summer, you’ll smell the fragrant, white blooms of stephanotis before you see the plant. With a support to clamber up, this spectacular climber will cover an entire wall. It can be kept small by pruning and by growing over a pot hoop, which will allow you to enjoy it as a tabletop plant.

HEIGHT 10ft (3m)

SPREAD 10ft (3m)

FLOWERS Fragrant, white

FOLIAGE Thick, green

LIGHT Filtered sun

TEMPERATURE 50–73°F (10–23°C)

CARE Fairly easy

PLACE OF ORIGIN Madagascar

CARE

This stunning plant will add a touch of luxury to a room that has filtered sunlight and moderate humidity. Its clusters of stunning tubular flowers are long-lasting and, if grown in the perfect spot, can adorn the plant from May until the beginning of October. Don’t place stephanotis in a very bright room, as this will cause the flowers to fade prematurely.

Plant in commercial potting mix, and keep the potting mix moist between spring and fall. Reduce watering slightly in winter. Apply a high-potash fertilizer every two weeks in spring and summer to encourage a steady flow of flowers. If your room is on the dry side, mist the leaves at least once a week.

Prune in early spring to keep the plant to a manageable size; this is also the perfect time to repot, if required.

When space is limited, you can easily keep stephanotis neat and compact.

PROBLEM SOLVING Stephanotis react badly to being moved around, especially when they’re in flower. Sudden changes in temperature and light levels will lead to an unhealthy, ailing plant.

Failure to flower is most likely to result from lack of humidity or from the plant being kept too warm in the winter. During winter, it benefits from being in a cooler room, of about 55–61°F (13–16°C).

DISPLAY

The combination of dark, thick, glossy leaves and pure white flowers forms an impressive display. This, together with the plant’s magnificent perfume, makes a desirable plant. Stephanotis is equally striking if kept small and trained over a pot hoop. Display it with other trained climbers such as the paperflower or rose grape. Don’t display it with other scented climbers such as jasmine as the combined fragrances will be overpowering.

Houseplants A–Z | STEPHANOTIS

ALSO TRY

Here are some other large climbers that respond well to being trained over a pot hoop and pruned to a more manageable size:

• Red passionflower (Passiflora racemosa), height 13ft (4m). This plant is happy in a south-, west-, or east-facing room. It has striking red blooms. Prune after flowering.
• Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’), height 5ft (1.5m). Grown for its ivylike leaves, this plant can be pruned at any time of year. It enjoys full sun.

The red passionflower offers showstopping summer blooms.