Radermachera sinica

China Doll Plant, Serpent Tree, Emerald Tree

Moderate careTerrestrialMildly toxic60180 cm

The China Doll plant is a compact, fast-growing evergreen tree from the subtropical mountain forests of southern China and Taiwan, where it can reach 30 metres in the wild — but indoors it settles into a dense, bushy shrub rarely exceeding 120 cm. It is grown almost entirely for its foliage: long, bipinnate (doubly compound) leaves composed of dozens of small, glossy, deeply veined leaflets each about 2–4 cm long, giving the plant an intricate, finely textured appearance quite unlike most broadleaf houseplants. In the right conditions it grows quickly and fills out well with pruning; left untrimmed it becomes leggy. It does best in bright indirect light — a few metres from a large south- or east-facing window — and consistently moist but not waterlogged soil. Its one significant quirk is a strong dislike of being moved or having its roots disturbed: expect a flush of leaf drop whenever the plant is relocated, which it recovers from in a few weeks once it has settled. Flowers — white, trumpet-shaped, and reportedly fragrant — appear in spring and early summer outdoors, but are rarely produced by indoor specimens.

Build a terrarium with this plant

Care

Light

Bright indirect(preferred)Indirect light

Humidity

Medium (40–60%)(preferred)High (60–80%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
10°C24°C

Soil

Well draining(preferred)Peat mossLoamy

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5.5 – 6.5

Appearance

Growth habit

BushyUpright

Leaf shape

CompoundOval

Leaf texture

GlossySmooth

Distribution

Propagation

Take 10–15 cm tip cuttings from healthy, non-flowering green (not woody) stems in spring or early summer. Remove lower leaves, leaving 2–3 sets at the tip. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder and insert into a moist mix of peat moss and perlite. Cover with a clear plastic bag or propagator lid to maintain humidity. Provide bright indirect light and warmth (around 20–22 °C). Roots develop in 4–6 weeks; once new top growth appears, gradually remove the cover and pot on. Success rate is moderate — young stems root more readily than mature wood, and the plant is prone to rotting if the substrate becomes waterlogged.

References

  1. 1

    Kew Plants of the World Online — Radermachera sinica (Hance) Hemsl.

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:110522-1
  2. 2

    Wikipedia — Radermachera sinica

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radermachera_sinica
  3. 3

    Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Radermachera sinica

    https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277931
  4. 4

    Guide to Houseplants — China Doll Plant (Radermachera sinica)

    https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/china-doll-plant.html
  5. 5

    Healthy Houseplants — China Doll Plant Care Guide: Growing Radermachera sinica

    https://www.healthyhouseplants.com/indoor-houseplants/china-doll-plant-care-guide-growing-radermachera-sinica/
  6. 6

    Smart Garden Guide — China Doll Plant Care (Radermachera sinica)

    https://smartgardenguide.com/china-doll-plant-care/
  7. 7

    Gardening Know How — Information on Growing China Doll Houseplants

    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/china-doll/radermachera-sinica.htm
  8. 8

    Propagate One — How to Propagate Radermachera sinica

    https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-radermachera-sinica/
  9. 9

    Laidback Gardener — Radermachera sinica: The July 2023 Houseplant of the Month

    https://laidbackgardener.blog/2023/07/04/radermachera-sinica-the-july-2023-houseplant-of-the-month/
  10. 10

    The Planted Tank Forum — Riparium plant: Radermachera sinica

    https://www.plantedtank.net/threads/riparium-plant-radermachera-sinica.109000/