Stephanotis
This handsome climber with beautifully scented flowers makes a great screen or feature vine, and is loved in bridal bouquets,
The first time I saw stephanotis flowers in a floral arrangement, I couldn’t resist touching them, very lightly, as the starry white blooms seemed too perfect to be real. Also known as Madagascan jasmine or wax flower, Stephanotis floribunda is a twining vine with deliciously perfumed clusters of tubular white flowers on short stems that are prized for wedding bouquets. Each flower has a ‘crown’ of five lobes and stamens that are thought to resemble tiny ears, hence the name derived from the Greek words stephanos (crown) and otis (ear).
Stephanotis is native to tropical and subtropical parts of Africa, Madagascar and Asia, and grows in all but the coldest parts of Australia. Plants have handsome oval, leathery leaves and they are happy growing in full sun or semi-shade. They make great screening plants and are often used to disguise fences and sheds.
These plants need a spot with warmth and rich, free-draining soil. Grow them in a raised bed or large pot if your soil is heavy. In cold areas, such as Melbourne, train them against a sunny wall, which retains the heat. They don’t like frost, so provide protection in chilly weather, or use a glasshouse – they are popular conservatory plants in Europe. Provide the support of a trellis, as vines can get to 6m long in ideal conditions. Feed in spring, and water deeply in dry times.
Prune the vines in late winter or early spring to keep them tidy and contained. They bloom on new growth. Generally, all that’s needed is a light trim of the side shoots that grow from the main stems. If it’s overgrown, cut half of the main stems back this year and do the rest next year. The plants have a milky sap, so lay down an old towel when pruning to ensure it doesn’t drip on furniture and other surfaces below.
propagation methods
After flowering, which can occur during the warmer months, stephanotis produces green, avocado-like fruit that stay on the vine for a year or more. It’s not uncommon to hear callers to gardening radio talkback programs asking if they are edible. They’re not, but if you wait until the fruit mature and turn brown, they will naturally split open to reveal a mass of seeds, each with a fluffy ‘feather’ that helps them disperse through the air.
Stephanotis is very easy to propagate. Lightly push the seeds into pots filled with seed-raising mix and keep moist but not wet. Expect germination in two weeks to two months when sown during warmer weather. If you don’t want to propagate them, just chop off the fruit.
Plants can also be propagated from stem cuttings, each with 2–3 nodes, taken in the warmer months. Dip the base in hormone powder and bury at least one node in a pot filled with propagation medium. If you live in an area without summer humidity, use a clear plastic drink bottle, with the base removed, as a mini greenhouse.