As the common name suggests, Madagascar jasmine is native to Madagascar and has flowers with a fragrance reminiscent of jasmine. It is a tropical twining woody climber that grows in its native habitat to 12-20' tall. Genus name comes from the Greek words stephanos (crown) and otos (ear), in reference to the purported resemblance of the narrow flower tube to an ear canal surrounded at the end by a crown of five ear-like lobes. Stephanotis is in the dogbane and milkweed family whereas true jasmine (Jasminium officinale) is in the olive family. Madagascar's climate, with its moderate temperatures, high humidity and seasonal cycles of hot, wet summers and cool, dry winters provides the optimal growing conditions for Stephanotis.