Radermachera sinica 'Variegata' Plants GrowTropicals
Variegated China doll

Radermachera sinica 'Variegata'

£18.99
Pot size
14cm £18.99

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Complete the set up
Jungle Mix - Premium Houseplant Potting Mix
The perfect soil Jungle Mix - Premium Houseplant Potting Mix · 2.5L · £4.99
Description

Radermachera sinica 'Variegata' is the variegated form of the China doll plant. It carries the same glossy, doubly divided, almost ferny foliage as the familiar green plant, but every leaflet is margined and splashed in cream and white, so the whole crown reads lighter and brighter in a room. We also stock the plain green Radermachera sinica, the lime leaved 'Golden' form and a bonsai form raised on a sculpted trunk; this is the one to choose for crisp cream and green foliage on an upright, bushy little indoor tree.

Origins

Radermachera sinica is a flowering tree in the Bignoniaceae family, native from the eastern Himalaya through southern China and northern Indo-China to Taiwan. In the wild it becomes a substantial evergreen tree with fragrant, trumpet shaped flowers, but indoors it is prized for its shining, intricately divided leaves and its neat, compact habit, and the species holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. The variegated form arose in cultivation as a sport of the green plant and is kept entirely for its foliage.

Care

Care is much the same as for the green China doll, with one important difference: light. The cream portions of each leaflet hold no chlorophyll, so 'Variegata' needs brighter light than the green form to grow well and keep its markings, ideally bright, indirect light with a little gentle morning or evening sun. Keep the compost evenly moist through the growing season, watering when the surface begins to dry, and never let it either dry right out or sit in water, as both cost it leaves. Average room humidity is fine. Keep it warm and settled, above 10C and away from cold draughts, radiators and sudden moves, because China dolls famously drop leaves when their conditions change abruptly. A pinch of the new shoot tips now and then keeps the crown dense and bushy.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

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How to care for Variegated China doll

Keep me in bright, gentle light away from harsh sun and never let me dry out completely.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Variegated China doll

Radermachera sinica 'Variegata' is a houseplant that takes a little effort. It needs bright indirect light, watering often enough to keep the compost evenly moist, average household humidity and a minimum temperature of 10°C.

Good for

Living Room

Care level

EasyChallenge

A little effort

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

Bright, indirect light with a little gentle morning or evening sun. The variegated form needs brighter light than the green China doll to grow well and hold its cream markings. Read moreShow less

Bright, indirect light with a little gentle morning or evening sun. The variegated form needs brighter light than the green China doll to grow well and hold its cream markings.

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Keep evenly moist

Keep the compost evenly moist in the growing season, watering when the surface starts to dry. Never let it dry out completely or stand in water; both cause leaf drop. Read moreShow less

Keep the compost evenly moist in the growing season, watering when the surface starts to dry. Never let it dry out completely or stand in water; both cause leaf drop.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Happy at normal household humidity

Average room humidity is fine. It copes with normal household air better than most fine leaved plants. Read moreShow less

Average room humidity is fine. It copes with normal household air better than most fine leaved plants.

Temperature

Keep above 10°C · Happy at normal room temperature

Warm and steady, 10C or above at all times. Keep it away from cold draughts, hot radiators and sudden moves, which trigger leaf drop. Read moreShow less

Warm and steady, 10C or above at all times. Keep it away from cold draughts, hot radiators and sudden moves, which trigger leaf drop.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Bushy →Upright →

Plant type

Foliage houseplant →

Also known as

Radermachera sinica 'Variegata'

Genus

Radermachera →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the other China doll plants you sell?

It is the same species, Radermachera sinica, in its variegated form. The standard China doll has glossy dark green leaves, the 'Golden' form is a bright lime green all over, and the bonsai form is trained on a thick sculpted trunk. 'Variegata' has each glossy leaflet margined and splashed in cream and white, giving the whole plant a lighter, two tone look. Choose it if you want the classic ferny China doll foliage with extra brightness.

How much light does the variegated China doll need?

More than the green form. The cream areas of each leaflet contain no chlorophyll, so the plant has less leaf surface working for it and needs bright, indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun welcome, to grow strongly and keep its markings crisp. In a dim spot it turns sparse, leggy and noticeably less variegated. Avoid harsh midday sun, which can scorch the pale leaf edges.

Will it lose its variegation?

It can fade or revert if unhappy. Keep it in good bright light, as low light encourages plainer, greener growth. If a shoot comes through entirely green, prune it back to variegated growth, because all green shoots are more vigorous and can gradually take over the plant if left.

Why is my China doll dropping leaves?

Sudden change is the usual culprit. Radermachera sinica is well known for shedding leaflets after a move, a cold draught, a dark position or a swing between bone dry and soggy compost. Settle it in a bright spot away from draughts and radiators, keep the compost evenly moist, and then leave it alone. Once conditions are steady it regrows quickly.

Is the China doll plant safe around pets?

It does not appear on the ASPCA lists of toxic plants and is generally regarded as non-toxic to cats, dogs and people. As with any houseplant, eating a large amount could cause mild stomach upset, so it is still sensible to discourage nibbling.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Radermachera

China Doll plants drop leaves when they are stressed, not doomed. Give Radermachera steady bright light and even moisture and it grows fast and feathery.

More about Radermachera care
Radermachera Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Radermachera sinica 'Variegata'
£18.99