Madagascar Jasmine

Madagascar Jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda) is grown for one thing above all others: the scent. It is a neat evergreen twining climber reaching about 3m tall and 1.5m wide, with thick waxy dark green leaves and clusters of pure white tubular flowers through the warm months. The perfume is heavy and sweet and carries on a still evening. It is restrained enough for a courtyard trellis or a large pot rather than swallowing a pergola.

Why you'll love it

• Fragrance worth planting for. Site it beside a door, a window or an outdoor seat and the scent does the rest.
• Well behaved on a small structure. At around 3m it covers a courtyard trellis, an obelisk or an archway without the constant cutting back vigorous climbers demand.
• A long run of flowers, and happy in pots. White flushes come through spring and summer, and on and off for much of the year in warm frost free gardens. It grows as well in a balcony pot as in the ground.

Where it works best

Courtyards and balconies. Enclosed spaces trap the perfume, and warmth reflected off walls suits a plant from a tropical island. A 400mm pot or larger with a trellis or obelisk is the classic treatment.

Beside doors, paths and windows. Scent works at pinch points, and on a trellis the flowers sit at nose height.

Light screening and archways. On wires or lattice it makes a green panel about 1.5m wide, and over a low arch it gives structure and flowers without outgrowing the frame.

Growing Madagascar Jasmine in Australia

Position and climate. Bright filtered light or morning sun, with shade from harsh afternoon sun. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so in cool inland and southern districts grow it in a pot that comes into a glasshouse, sunroom or sheltered verandah over winter.

Soil. Rich, free draining and high in organic matter. Work compost through the bed before planting, and in pots use a quality premium potting mix. Never let the pot stand in a saucer of water.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through spring and summer, then reduce watering noticeably over winter, which triggers the next flowering cycle. Feed with a controlled release fertiliser in early spring, then a potassium rich liquid feed fortnightly while it is budding.

Support and pruning. It twines, so it needs wires, mesh or a trellis; it will not cling to a bare wall. Prune lightly after the main flush, and avoid heavy pruning in late winter, because flowers form on new growth from established stems.

Safety. The milky sap and the seed pods are toxic if eaten and the sap can irritate skin. Wear gloves when pruning and keep it clear of where pets and small children play.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied in a 300mm pot and as a 200mm pack of six. The 300mm is a single established plant with growth already twining, the right choice for a feature position or one pot by a door, while the pack of six suits a fence line or a series of matching pots. Plants travel with their growth tied in, so expect to untie and retrain the stems in the first week, and flowering commonly pauses for a season after transplanting. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full climbing plant range
• Compare other scented plants
• Choose a pot and trellis for a climber
• Preparing soil for a new planting

Common questions

Why is mine not flowering?

Almost always not enough light, too much nitrogen producing leaves at the expense of buds, or no cool drier rest over winter. A brighter position and a potassium rich feed usually fixes it.

Is it safe around pets?

No. The milky sap and the seed pods are toxic if eaten. Grow it up a trellis or in a raised pot out of reach of dogs and cats.