Stephanotis for White Fragrant Sprays
I received a question last spring about the pot culture and blooming habits of the stephanotis which has set up for me an interesting cultural experiment. I ordered a stephanotis (Madagascar-jasmine) last fall, and it is thriving in a south window.
Garden encyclopedias do not give extensive information about this plant, but its thick shining green leaves and waxy white fragrant flowers make it worthy of more popularity in the northern window garden. No bridal bouquet would be considered authentic without the sprays of white stephanotis.
My plant has produced no sign of buds. The foliage has grown rapidly since the first of November, and if this is any indication, the blossoms should finish my experiment with much beauty and fragrance.
A cestrum plant (night-jessamine) also came in the box with the stephanotis. It is a nightshade with the typical thin, light green, quick-to-wilt leaves. Its creamy white flowers are fragrant at night and certainly this is an attractive winter window garden plant.
Cestrum is native of tropical America and thrives in a loose, rich soil composed of equal parts garden loam, peat moss, sand and leaf mold.
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