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About Stephanotis floribunda
Stephanotis floribunda (syn. Stephanotis jasminoides), popularly known as Madagascar Jasmine or Flower of Happiness, is a vigorous climbing vine with white, waxy, intensely fragrant flowers. The flowers are star-shaped, appear in clusters on new growth, and the base of the corolla is tubular, about 3 cm long.
It belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is endemic to Madagascar. In cultivation, it can exceed 6 m in length if supported. The leaves are glossy, dark green; the plant remains ornamental even outside the flowering season.
See Stephanotis floribunda at Secret Garden
Stephanotis with green or variegated leaves
Besides the classic form with fully green leaves, Secret Garden offers several variegated selections. Basic care is the same. The practical difference appears in the foliage: variegated specimens offer a dramatic look, completely transforming the overall appearance of the plant. It should be noted, however, that white or yellow areas contain less chlorophyll, so the plant may grow a little slower and requires good light but without harsh sun that can easily burn the light-colored tissue.
Note: variegation can vary from leaf to leaf and from plant to plant. It is normal for some leaves to have more or less pattern. If completely green shoots appear on a variegated plant, you can remove the green shoot if you want to maintain the dominant pattern.
1. Classic green form — Stephanotis jasminoides / floribunda
Dark green, glossy foliage. This is the most vigorous form and usually the easiest to find. The flowers remain the same: white, waxy, intensely fragrant. A good choice if you want more growth volume and flowering.
Classic green form, with uniformly green foliage.
2. Alpine (Albo variegata) — Stephanotis floribunda Alpine / Albo variegata
Albo-type variegation: white or cream areas appear on the leaves against a green background. The effect is contrasting. Being a selection with portions without chlorophyll, avoid strong direct sunlight on the white foliage.
Stephanotis Alpine / Albo variegata: white-cream areas on the leaf.
3. Yellow Variegata (yellow margin) — Stephanotis floribunda Yellow Variegata
Variegation with a yellow margin: the leaf outline is lighter, while the center generally remains greener. Warm appearance, easy to recognize. Midday sun can burn the yellow margin; prefers strong filtered light.
Stephanotis Yellow Variegata: golden-yellow margin on the leaf.
4. Inner Variegata (inner variegation) — Stephanotis floribunda Inner Variegata
Inner variegation: the light area appears mainly inside the leaf blade, and the edge can remain greener. The pattern is the opposite of the yellow margin form. The same cultivation regime; the difference is aesthetic, on the foliage.
Stephanotis Inner Variegata: variegation toward the leaf interior.
In short, choose based on foliage appearance:
- Classic green — vigor, traditional look
- Alpine / Albo — white-cream contrast on green
- Yellow margin — yellow outline
- Inner variegation — light center, greener edge
The flowers remain, in all these forms, typically Stephanotis: white, fragrant, in clusters on new growth.
Cultivation guidelines
The temperatures, humidity, watering, and fertilization below are approximate values. Pot size, actual light, ventilation, and growth stage change water consumption. The plant reacts quickly and negatively to strong drafts, temperature shocks, and overwatering in winter.
Light and placement
Stephanotis requires strong, partially filtered light. In the warm season, avoid very strong sun on the leaves: burns can appear. When it gets good light, flowering is more abundant and the growth more compact – without light, the plant grows weakly, the vines searching for light, but it does not flower.
If you grow the plant in a small pot exposed to more direct sunlight, the pot heats up and the substrate dries quickly. You can compensate with more frequent moisture checks and misting, not with a fixed watering schedule.
In winter, make sure the plant stays away from radiators and cold drafts from frequently opened windows. Warm air dries the leaves, and the sudden difference between warm-dry air and cold air causes flower loss.
Temperature and humidity
In Europe, Stephanotis is grown as an indoor plant. In summer, you can move the plant to a shaded terrace. Although it can survive outside down to about 4°C, at these temperatures it suffers significantly and the risk of losing the plant is high.
Indoors, the approximate growth range is between 16–31°C. Below 16°C the plant usually goes dormant, should only be watered superficially (it does not consume water nor does it evaporate) and may lose a large volume of leaves. Above 26°C, humidity needs increase; misting the leaves can help if they dry out by evening and air circulates.
Watering and fertilizing
Watering. During growth, water when the top few centimeters of substrate are dry, then let excess water drain. In winter, reduce watering: little water, only when the substrate is completely dry. Water stagnating in the pot, especially for a partially dormant plant, quickly damages the roots.
Fertilizing. From March, when active growth starts, fertilize every 1–2 weeks. From October, reduce or stop fertilizing completely. It is a fast-growing plant, which means it accepts a quality nitrogen fertilizer suitable for flowering plants. Example from the store: flowering plant fertilizer. Dilute according to the label; apply to already moist substrate.
Flowering, fruits, toxicity
The main flowering occurs in the warm season, usually from April to October. Spectacular clusters of flowers appear exclusively on new growth. The flowers are often used in event arrangements: garlands, corsages, bouquets.
Flowers fall prematurely when exposed to large temperature differences, strong drafts, or excessive watering. This is an environmental signal, not necessarily a sign that the plant is lost.
Winter flowering is possible if the plant experiences temperatures above approximately 22°C and good light. If natural light is weak, you can compensate with grow lights.
The fruit appears after flower pollination. Indoors it is rare, but you can pollinate manually with a fine brush. The fruit resembles an unripe mango; inside it has seeds. Ripening takes about 6 months. The plant propagates quite easily from seeds. The fruits are not edible.
Fruit of Stephanotis floribunda.
Toxicity. Stephanotis is considered pet friendly: it is not toxic to humans or animals in the usual sense of indoor plants. However, leaves, flowers, or fruits should not be consumed.
Pruning and repotting
Pruning for shaping or size reduction is preferably done when the plant is dormant. Diseased or pest-infested parts can be removed anytime to limit the problem. After pruning, under good conditions, the plant branches out and produces new growth.
Repotting is done when the pot becomes too small, usually when roots massively come out through the drainage holes. Choose a pot only about 2 cm larger in diameter. A pot that is too large retains water that is hard to control.
Newly purchased specimens can be repotted after 3–4 weeks of acclimatization, and only if the plant is actively growing. General guide: Indoor plant repotting.
Substrate. Ideally, it has medium water retention and good drainage: a quality potting soil, loosened with perlite, vermiculite, pumice, clay balls, or a little bark. As a base from the store, you can use premium universal substrate, improved with aeration material if it seems too dense.
Pests
Regularly check the leaves, including the underside, for aphids, mealybugs, woolly aphids, thrips, and mites. Red spider mites are common and aggressive when the air is dry. The earlier you identify the infestation, the easier the intervention.
In the early stage, a water spray or manual removal helps temporarily. Then choose an appropriate treatment from the plant treatment section. “Home” treatments have inconsistent effectiveness; don’t rely on them if the infestation is advanced or the damage is increasing.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the flowers fall off?
Most often: thermal shock, drafts, overwatering, or moving it during full bloom. Stabilize the location, light, and watering 1–2 weeks before changing anything else.
Why doesn’t it bloom?
Low light, no fertilization during the season, too aggressive pruning on new growth, or winter that is too warm and dark without additional light.
Can I keep it outside all winter in Romania?
Not as a permanent outdoor plant. In winter, bring it indoors to a bright spot, protected from frost and radiators.
This guide is offered for free. You can support secretgarden.ro by purchasing a plant from the Stephanotis floribunda offer or from the indoor plant collection.