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How to Prune Stephanotis

By: Lishah Smith

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21 September, 2017

The Stephanotis is a beautiful climbing vine for rock walls, trellis and ground cover. Light, fragrant flowers enhance gardening areas. A fully mature Stephanotis can reach 15 to 18 feet in length. The woody, evergreen vine does well in U.S. hardiness zones 5 through 11. Flowers on most varieties of the Stephanotis emerge and bloom from the middle of summer through the early fall months. One problem with the Stephanotis is how quickly it grows. Gardeners must prune the plant at the start of spring to keep it from taking over landscapes or outgrowing containers.

The Stephanotis is a beautiful climbing vine for rock walls, trellis and ground cover.

Disinfect sharp pruning shears to make clean and sterile cuts for pruning the Stephanotis.

Cut all dead limbs and stems down to 1/4 inch from the primary branch or trunk of the vine.

Cut all short or stunted growth limbs down to 1/4 inch of the main branch or vine’s trunk.

Trim overflowing stems and branches down to 1/2 their original length to control and reduce the size of the vine.

Snip off all dead flower blooms from the previous growing season. Make the cut within 2 inches of the bloom's location on the same limb or stem.

Water the base of the Stephanotis vine with 2 to 3 inches of water. Allow water to completely soak into the ground or drain from the container.

Disinfect sharp pruning shears to make clean and sterile cuts for pruning the Stephanotis.
Cut all dead limbs and stems down to 1/4 inch from the primary branch or trunk of the vine.

Cultivation Of Stephanotis

Stephanotis is a twining woody climbing vine that can grow 20 feet tall outdoors, with a spread of up to 6 feet, although indoor specimens are quite a bit smaller. As the nickname Madagascar jasmine suggests, the flowers are intensely fragrant and reminiscent of jasmine. Outdoors, plant stephanotis in a humus-rich, well-drained compost, such as one that is equal parts loam, sand, peat moss and leaf mold. Cuttings can also be placed in a plastic bag tied loosely at the top and placed on a bright windowsill away from direct sunlight. Remove flowers as they fade and leaves that have turned yellow. Indoor or outdoor container stephanotis plants will need repotting in the spring every two to four years. Stephanotis doesn't have any serious problems with insects or diseases. The most common pests are mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, thrips and aphids.

Stephanotis is a twining woody climbing vine that can grow 20 feet tall outdoors, with a spread of up to 6 feet, although indoor specimens are quite a bit smaller.
Outdoors, plant stephanotis in a humus-rich, well-drained compost, such as one that is equal parts loam, sand, peat moss and leaf mold.