Stephanotis floribunda is a woody stemmed, evergreen climber with deep green, waxy leaves and wonderfully fragrant, off-white, cone/bell shaped flowers that appear in clusters.
This is a real beauty of a specimen for gardens and particularly for patios due to the incredible fragrance. Grows well in pots and you can train them into pyramids on bamboo stakes.
Stephanotis floribunda will occasionally produce longish, fleshy fruits particularly during warm summers. The fruit may reach 10cm or more in length and resemble a large pear, although they are not edible. The fruit take several months to ripen and if necessary, they can be picked and placed in a warm situation to encourage ripening. Once the fruits are fully ripe, they will begin to split and turn brown. At this stage, the two halves can be pulled apart, to reveal a central mass of flattened seeds, which have a silky plume of white hairs, attached to one end. Store the seeds overwinter in cool, dry, frost-free conditions. Sow them thinly in spring, covering lightly with compost, in a temperature of about 20-24°c. Sow plenty of seeds, if space permits, as seed viability may be low.