Stephanotis floribunda, sold as Madagascar jasmine, can be grown indoors as a climbing houseplant, but it asks for more than most fragrant plants on this site: bright light, steady warmth, humid air, a trellis and a cooler, drier rest in winter. The two plant references read for this guide agree on those basics and differ on how much direct sun it should get.
Stephanotis is not a true jasmine. It does not belong to the genus Jasminum, so care advice for jasmine sambac or polyanthum does not carry over. If you are still working out which plant you own, start with Is Star Jasmine a Real Jasmine? and the Jasmine hub.
What stephanotis is, and what it is not
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) describes Stephanotis floribunda as a twining evergreen climber that can reach 4 to 8 metres tall and takes 10 to 20 years to reach maturity. It is rated H1B, meaning it can be grown outside in summer but needs protection in winter, with a minimum temperature of 10 to 15°C, and the RHS notes it is usually grown under glass or as a houseplant. The NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox describes the flowers as white, fragrant and tubular.
Those size figures describe the plant’s potential, not what a pot-grown specimen will do. Neither source gives an indoor size, so plan for a vigorous vine that needs support rather than a tidy tabletop plant. The vine is also not the same plant as the gardenia sometimes called cape jasmine, which has very different needs; see Gardenia Indoor Care if that is the plant you have.
Light: where the sources differ
The RHS plant record lists full sun and a west-, south- or east-facing, sheltered position. Its houseplant notes say to keep the plant in full light with shade from hot sun. The NC State toolbox is more specific: full sun, defined as six or more hours of direct sunlight a day during summer growth, with exposure increased gradually because sudden full sun can cause leaf blister and sunburn.
A reasonable reading is to give it the brightest spot you have, build up direct sun slowly, and screen the hottest midday sun behind glass. That is an interpretation of the two sources, not a figure either one gives. For the wider question of how much light flowering houseplants need, see How Much Light Do Plants Need to Flower? and Will a Grow Light Make Plants Flower?.
Temperature and winter rest
NC State says the plant does best in the 68 to 90°F range (about 20 to 32°C) and should be brought indoors before temperatures approach 39°F (about 4°C). Over winter it recommends a cool, sunny, dry spot where the plant can rest until outdoor temperatures rise. The RHS minimum of 10 to 15°C is a floor, not a comfortable target, so a cold windowsill at night is a risk.
Neither source gives a winter rest temperature or a number of weeks, so this page does not invent one. The general idea of a cool rest before flowering is discussed in Cold Period for Plants to Bloom, but that is a general houseplant question, not a stephanotis protocol.
Water and humidity
NC State says to give abundant water during summer growth, very little in cool conditions, and warns that too much water causes root rot. It also calls for high humidity during summer growth without giving a percentage. The RHS houseplant notes say to water and mist freely while the plant is growing and to water sparingly in winter.
Neither source gives a watering schedule in days. Treat the pattern as the guide: generous and regular while it is actively growing in warm light, much less when it is cool and resting, and never standing in water.
Pot, soil, feeding and support
NC State recommends a mix with a high content of loam and peat moss plus generous drainage material such as perlite or coarse sand, and says the plant appears to do best when root bound. That is a reason not to jump to a much larger pot. For feeding, the RHS suggests a balanced liquid fertiliser every two to three weeks while growing, and NC State recommends a balanced fertiliser in summer. The RHS also says the climbing stems need support, so fit a trellis or hoop when you pot the plant, not after the vine has tangled.
| Topic | RHS | NC State Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun in the plant record; houseplant notes add shade from hot sun | Full sun, 6 or more hours direct in summer growth; build up gradually |
| Temperature | Minimum 10 to 15°C | Best 68 to 90°F; bring in before 39°F |
| Winter | Water sparingly | Cool, sunny, dry spot to rest |
| Water | Water and mist freely when growing | Abundant in summer growth; root rot if too wet |
| Feeding | Balanced liquid feed every 2 to 3 weeks while growing | Balanced fertiliser in summer |
| Roots | Support climbing stems | Does best slightly root bound |
| Pests | Scale, glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs, root mealybug | No pests or diseases listed |
Pests and problems
The RHS lists scale insects, glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and root mealybug as possible pests and describes the plant as generally disease free. NC State lists no insect or disease pests and mentions only leaf blister and sunburn from sudden full sun. Both are consistent with a plant that is mostly troubled by watering and light rather than disease. Check leaf joints and stems regularly for the sticky or cottony signs of scale and mealybug.
If the plant is not flowering, NC State says commercially grown plants with enough light, water and climate control bloom year-round, with flowers listed in spring, summer and fall. Neither source explains bud drop or gives a stephanotis-specific cause. General houseplant causes are covered in Low Humidity Bud Drop, Moving a Plant Causes Bud Drop and Temperature and Bud Drop, but those are general explanations, not stephanotis research.
Is stephanotis safe for cats and dogs?
The ASPCA lists Madagascar jasmine, Stephanotis floribunda, as non-toxic to dogs and cats, and NC State tags it non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The ASPCA also notes that eating any plant material can cause vomiting and stomach upset in dogs and cats, so keep chewing pets away from the vine anyway. Do not confuse it with cape jasmine, the ASPCA’s name for the gardenia, which the ASPCA lists as toxic.
Frequently asked questions
Is stephanotis the same as jasmine?
No. Madagascar jasmine is a common name only. The plant is Stephanotis floribunda, not a member of the genus Jasminum, so jasmine care guides do not apply to it.
Will stephanotis flower indoors?
It can. NC State says plants with enough light, water and climate control bloom, and lists spring, summer and fall as bloom seasons. Neither source promises flowers on a home windowsill, and light is the first thing to check.
How big does it get in a pot?
The RHS gives 4 to 8 metres as the plant’s size and 10 to 20 years to maturity. Neither source gives a pot-grown size, so plan on a climbing plant that needs permanent support.
Do I need to let it rest in winter?
NC State recommends a cool, sunny, dry resting spot over winter and the RHS says to water sparingly. Neither gives a precise temperature range for the rest, so do not push it near the 10°C floor.
Sources read for this page
- Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): Stephanotis floribunda plant details
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Stephanotis floribunda
- ASPCA: Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Madagascar Jasmine
Last reviewed 15 October 2026. Written by Md. Firozur Rahman. This page gives general guidance and cannot diagnose a plant from a description; see the Disclaimer.
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