China Doll Radermachera sinica
Common Name: China Doll, Emerald Tree, Serpent Tree
Latin Name: Radermachera Sinica
Family: Bignoniaceae
Plant Type: Tree
Origin: China
Blooming Time: Mid Spring
Humidity: Moderate
Temperature: 50 – 75*F
Height: 30′
Color: Green
Insects and Diseases: Mealy bugs, spider mites, aphids
Description:
The China Doll is a fairly compact plant that has became very popular in recent years. The tree like plant has medium to dark green leaves that are glossy and almost look oily. The leaves are divided into separate leaflets and are generally thin and delicate looking. The blooms are white, but it rarely blooms in the home.
Lighting:
This plant needs lot’s of indirect, bright sunlight to thrive well. The plant should be placed in an area that it can get at least 4-5 hours of bright light each day. If you don’t have the proper lighting you can use a plant light to give the China Doll the required light.
Watering:
The soil should be kept moist, but the roots shouldn’t be allowed to sit in water. Add some rocks to the
China Doll Radermachera Sinica Flower
pot, or Perlite or sand to the soil if it doesn’t have good drainage. You should water the plant when the top of the soil gets dry to the touch.
Provide adequate drainage and don’t over water this one. When new foliage is developing, watering can be slightly increased and decreased again once the plant has become dormant.
Soil:
These compact trees like a rich soil that drains well. General purpose potting soil can be used, add sand or Perlite if extra drainage is needed.
Fertilization:
The China Doll should be fed at least once a month while it’s growth period is active. Plants require less fertilization during inactive growth and feeding times should be decreased.
A slow release fertilizer can be used twice yearly. The plant shouldn’t be fertilized for four months after being re-potted.
Propagation:
While it is difficult to propagate a China Doll plant, it isn’t impossible with a little extra care. Cuttings can be taken from the stems, but the cuttings have to be green and not wood like.
The cuttings can be planted in small pots that you have filled with some moist compost or potting soil. Covering the pots with plastic will help retain the moisture level. China Doll’s need high humidity to take root.
The cuttings should be placed in a location with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil evenly moist during this time and within 3-4 weeks the roots should begin to grow.
Tips:
You have to be very careful with your watering schedule. If the plant has brittle leaves that have turned yellow, it not getting enough water. Too much water is indicated by black colored tips.
China Dolls prefer to be somewhat root bound, so be really careful about re-potting it. It’s a plant that doesn’t like change very much either and re-potting it, moving it to another area or drafts may cause major leaf loss.
If your plant loses most or all of it’s leaves, trim all of the stems down to around 1/2 their length and decrease watering. When the plant experiences a massive loss of leaves it’s very susceptible to root rot.
Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2008 HouseplantsForYou.com, All Rights Reserved
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By Terri Free July 25, 2009 - 5:19 pm
I just wanted to say, this is by far the BEST plant site i have seen, and believe me ive seen several of them…………keep up the awesome work…………..Terri
By Indoor Gardener July 25, 2009 - 5:25 pm
Thank you Terri, I really appreciate that a lot!
By Terri Free July 25, 2009 - 9:04 pm
your welcome….. : )
By Marcia August 19, 2009 - 12:42 pm
I have had two China Doll plants. They do fine for about a year and all of sudden start dropping their leaves a lot. What could be wrong?
By Carol August 30, 2009 - 10:43 am
Ihave a china doll on my screen deck, it has grown to about 9ft tall. straigt up not alot of long branches . Don’t know what to do with it!! It will be too tall to bring in for the winter! Can i cut it off and root the top? Never seen one do that before!! My husband let it groww to see what it would do! Don’t want to hurt it! Thanks Carol
By Lea September 16, 2009 - 9:49 am
I have recently purchased some china doll seeds and planted them, but after 3 weeks of not showing any signs of growing, my hubby, who knew how badly I wanted a china doll, bought my a HUGE plant for my birthday. I have some new growth from the plant that I have planted in soil to try to get it to root. In the meantime, some of my seeds have started to sprout. My question is, what should the new sprouts look like from seed? These don’t look at all like china doll leaves, but maybe they are suppose to change??? Thanks…Lea
By amy January 17, 2010 - 4:31 pm
I have only to say this one thing, “Indoor Gardner”, and I realize that my comment may be construed as ugly. I’m looking for advice from an INTELLIGENT person, and I cannot believe an intelligent person does not know how to properly use the apostrophe. “Lot’s” as in “lots of” is incorrect…it is lots. “It’s” is incorrect when it comes to ownership. It is “its”. It’s is for “it is”. I apologize for my rudeness, but I happened to read this at the wrong time on the wrong day at the wrong time. This should be basic grammar to someone with basic intelligence.
By Indoor Gardener January 17, 2010 - 6:31 pm
Hello Amy
Guess what? My grandmother knows a lot about plants and gardening yet she can hardly spell let alone understand proper grammar. Does that mean she doesn’t know what she is talking about? Does that mean she is not intelligent? No it does not. Apologizing for being rude makes it no less rude. This website is about plant care not about grammar but thank you for taking the time out of your day to give us a grammar lesson.
By Terri January 18, 2010 - 7:22 pm
Indoor Gardener, I am sorry for Amy’s comment. Im sure your Grandmother is a awesome lady, mine was, and she couldn’t spell very well either, but gee could she ever make a great garden. You take care . Terri
By Indoor Gardener January 18, 2010 - 7:31 pm
Thank you Terri, I wasnt angry about what Amy wrote I just wanted to respond, and by the way I did not write this article. I am just the administrator.
By Jenni February 23, 2010 - 5:54 pm
I have a china Doll Plant that used to be on a decking and was not doing very well, I cut all the branches off and just left the main stem only, I then planted it into the garden where it is now approx 2 1/2 metres high. It has a perfumed white flower and at the moment, it is in bud. It gets morning sun and afternoon shade and is thriving. I live on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia and it obviously likes the sandy soil.
By Ginger Stephens March 16, 2010 - 9:02 am
Help! I brought home a China Doll plant that was delivered for my father’s wake/funeral. I read the instructions and watered it often, however, the leaves shriveled up and I’m afraid it has died on me. I’m thinking it had bugs. Isn’t there a spray concoction of water/alcohol that you can spray on the leaves to rid the plant of those pesky things? I have such a hard time keeping plants alive due to bugs!!
By Jamie March 30, 2010 - 3:48 pm
Hi there, I had a question for you and would love to get your advice. I just recieved a China Doll plant from a friend for my husband’s grandfather’s funeral and it is beautiful. However, it did not come with instructions so I Googled it and read alot of great tips but still have a problem. It says it needs indirect sunlight if indoors but I absolutely do not have a spot in my home near any windows that I can keep the plant. Every window either has a sofa, kid’s toy or a bed in front of it. I have had the plant for a few days and now the leaves are all falling off and some are shriveling. I checked the soil to see if it was dry and it was so I watered it and now i have it sitting IN (yes IN) my kitchen sink because that is the only area I can put it for sunlight. I guess my questions were if I were to replant this outdoors where would be a good spot if my house faces south and that is where my garden is located. I can not put it in the backyard or the dogs will eat it up. The garden gets lots of direct sunlight for the most part of the day. I just don’t want to kill the plant because it is so pretty and will remind my husband of his grandpa. Thanks
By Dena May 2, 2010 - 11:40 am
I just got a new plant and within a couple days I see little brown eggs on some of the leaves..I look online and see what different bugs look like but don’t see these eggs..what are they?
By muffi May 26, 2010 - 11:10 pm
Amy…this is about plants – not grammar. We’re all from different parts of the country. I am from the midwest. Get used to the languages from different areas and just talk plants.
By Lea June 4, 2010 - 11:39 am
Hi again…I wanted to update my previous post about my “HUGE” china doll plant/tree that my husband got for me. Over the winter it was dropping leaves and wasn’t looking very healthy. I thought it was a lost cause. I cut back all of the branches that didn’t look healthy and they all re-grew nice bright green healthy looking leaves. The seeds that I planted are still growing, but at a very slow speed.
To “Amy”…you are right..your comment is construed as ugly! I’d like to ask you just how “correct” your sentence “..but I happened to read this at the wrong time on the wrong day at the wrong time..” is. Did you read it at two “wrong times” or just one?
To others who have posted HELPFUL information about PLANTS..thanks LOT’S!!! (yes, that is sarcasm so we don’t need another grammar lesson)
By Marilyn June 12, 2010 - 4:54 pm
Guess what! I am an English teacher and found Amy to be right! Her remark was UGLY! The last thing I was looking for was a summer grammar lesson. However, I was happy to read about my China Doll tree. It’s new and I love it. However, I knew very little about it. Another thing for Amy to realize, if you have to apologize for what you are about to say, DON’T SAY IT!!!
By Stefanie June 29, 2010 - 11:08 am
Hi there! I bought my china doll in a tiny 4″ pot about 5 years ago. It is now over 8ft tall and bending up against my ceiling! I have always kept it near but not IN direct sunlight and it has thrived, even times when I was out of town and it lost some leaves I just soaked it and it was fine again. It has adjusted to being re-potted about 3 or 4 times (once because the pot broke). But now I need to prune it back and I have no idea how to. Any advice? Thanks!
By Sheila August 9, 2010 - 11:46 am
My newly purchased 4′ high China doll is doing very well; although it appears in need of re-potting as it is still in the plastic container it was purchased in. What size pot should I use to repot and what is the best choice in the material of the container.
Any info appreciated,
Thanks
By Kelsey August 28, 2010 - 8:23 pm
HELP! I have a china doll that i’ve had for a few months it was good at first and lately a bunch of the leaves have been falling off… dying… most of the plant seems good though… anyways i was just pulling off some of the dead branches/leaves to see that there were HUNDREDS of little almost invisible little bugs walking all over it EVERYWHERE in the dirt part of it. WHAT ARE THESE?!?!??! I put it outside for now… can I leave it out there? How do i get rid of these nasty bugs?!?!? THANK YOU!
By Indoor Gardener August 30, 2010 - 8:07 am
Try spraying the plant with a mixture of water, garlic and dish washing liquid. The dish washing liquid is basically there to help the water/garlic stick to the leaves.
By Diana October 1, 2010 - 5:03 pm
My plant is doing well, but the stems once matured grow down. Why is that?
By Janice Jensen October 5, 2010 - 11:30 pm
My plant was a gift from my husband’s funeral. It is dropping some leaves. I have it in a north window, it gets good light. I watered it once a week and then drenched it and let it drain. That doesn’t seem to be right because it is starting to drop a quite a few leaves. I thought I would water it a couple times a week and try that. What is the best way to water it ?
By Rhonda October 12, 2010 - 1:04 pm
I want to know when you should replant the china doll into a larger pot
i just received the plant it came from a florist with no instructions.
By Rhonda October 12, 2010 - 1:08 pm
I just received a china doll plant and would like to know when it should
be re potted into a large pot i can not find any information on when or
how to re pot the plant what size pot, soil to use
By Margo October 21, 2010 - 5:49 pm
Living in Iowa, my china dolls thrive outdoors all summer but must come in during the winter months. They don’t like the change and loose all their leaves. The past 2 years they both lost all their leaves and I cut them off (about 4″ above the soil) the first year, thinking they were dead! I set them back out in the spring to get rid of them and keep the pots and much to my surprise, they grew… and strong and healthy! Same thing happened the next year, losing all the leaves when I brought them in, etc. When they did, I cut them back and they came back again outside. How can I keep them during the winter months inside?? Help soon, as I’ve just brought them in once again!
By Regina November 18, 2010 - 11:55 am
I have had my china doll about four years now. I keep it at work and it has always done very well even with pot changes, pruning, changing offices, a building flood and being completely dried out twice. Lately though it is not looking very well. The leaves are all drying up and falling off. I am thinking I need to prune it again, but my question is.. if I prune into the trunk of the plant that has turned “woody” will it get new growth on that part? It has three main trunks to it and two are wood (with some green up higher) and one is still green down to the dirt. So if I prune down into the woody area of the trunk will it get new growth on the trunk? Hope that makes sense
By Shirley December 12, 2010 - 11:24 am
I have been searching for a place to buy a China Doll, but have not been able to find one. Can someone please help me find a source?
By Regina December 12, 2010 - 12:50 pm
Shirley – I got mine at walmart.
By Hannah January 13, 2011 - 10:14 pm
Shirley-I got mine at home depot!
By Kylie February 13, 2011 - 12:43 am
I bought a little China Doll plant at the supermarket in a tiny pot. It was supposed to be an indoor plant, but I put it in the back patio, in the shade. The plant had other ideas, though, as it continually leans toward the sunlight, it seems it wants as much sun as it can get! I’ve moved it into the sunshine, and we’re having a hot, dry summer here in Perth, Australia, so I water it every day. The thing is, it doesn’t look like the plant in the picture. It’s just one tall, skinny stem that has shot up like a beanstalk! It started about a foot high 4-5 months ago, and it’s now as tall as I am. It has plenty of leaves coming off the one central stem and is very beautiful. I’ve had to tie it to a stake so it doesn’t fall over. Is this normal? Should it be more of a bush? Should I re-pot it? It’s still in its original little pot. Will it be okay to stay outside when winter comes?
By Maria February 21, 2011 - 2:28 pm
I have a China Doll and initially I had mad the mistake of placing it by a window that did not get a lot of sunlight (very shaded, indoor) and the leaves fell off to half of what it had when I first purchased it. I then learned from a friend that it needs indirect sun so I transfered it to a south facing window. It thrived there, it started to sprout and regrow new branches and leaves. But, now it seems to be growing “down” as opposed to “out and up” like it hates the sun so it rather just grow away from it. Although, it still continues to have new growth I am just concerned as to why the branches and leaves are pointing down. Am I doing anything wrong? Maybe too much sun? My friend had suggested that I water once or every other two weeks. I have been doing this but now maybe i”m thinking this is another culprit. Please, can any shed some light in my predicament? Thanks…
By millie February 24, 2011 - 4:42 pm
please need i have a green house in my back yard. in sourh texas.i was given 30 china doll plants .can they be planted in the yard. please help soon.
By Kylie February 27, 2011 - 6:38 pm
Maria: I water mind twice a day and it’s thriving, but then it is very hot here. When the leaves start to point down, I water it immediately and they perk back up. I don’t think yours is getting enough water.
By Daphne O'Donoghoe March 22, 2011 - 11:51 pm
I have had a china doll for years, I am in Brisbane Australia, my tree is about 20 ft. tall, in the garden. Every couple of years it gets lopped, and is more lovely each time. It is pretty much in full sun and completely neglected. It only gets watered by the rain.
By Jenni March 24, 2011 - 4:34 am
My china Doll Plant is now above the roof of our house, it is in the front garden, gets early morning sun, then shade for the rest of the day. It has a white flower and has continually flowered since February and the perfume of the flower is very strongly scented. I live on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria Australia. It also gets very little water, mainly only when it rains. It is a real specimen tree in the garden.
By Kim Stinnett May 14, 2011 - 7:55 pm
How can you tell if one is dead or not? (China Doll) I have had mine for abou 15yrs and now it seems dead. ;-( Any help at all?