Radermachera sinica 'Summerscent'

Summerscent China Doll / Asian Bell Tree

Botanical Name: Radermachera sinica 'Summerscent'
Family: Bignoniaceae
Origin: China, Taiwan (cultivar selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen small tree to large shrub

Overview

'Summerscent' is a refined cultivar of China doll selected for its outstanding fragrant flowers — large, white to pale yellow trumpet-shaped blooms with a rich jasmine-like evening fragrance that perfumes outdoor spaces from summer into autumn. Its elegant, glossy compound foliage provides dense, lush green shade year-round, making it as valuable as a screening and shade tree as it is for fragrance. In SA's warmer garden zones, it's a stunning alternative to more frost-sensitive tropical trees.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 4–8 m H x 3–5 m W (can be managed smaller with pruning)
• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast; 40–70 cm per year in warm conditions; upright and densely branching with a broad, rounded crown
• Foliage: Glossy, deep-green bipinnate compound leaves; fine, fern-like texture; dense, lush canopy year-round
• Flowers: Large (5–8 cm) white to pale-yellow trumpet flowers with flared lobes; produced in clusters; intensely fragrant — jasmine-like scent strongest at dusk and night; summer–autumn
• Seasonal Interest: Dense evergreen canopy year-round; fragrant flowering summer–autumn
• Wildlife Value: Fragrant flowers attract moths and night-flying pollinators; canopy provides bird shelter
• Tolerance: Moderate frost tolerance (protect below −3°C in early years); drought-tolerant once established; heat-tolerant; wind-tolerant in sheltered positions; dislikes waterlogging
• Planting Density: Feature/specimen: 4–5 m from structures; screen planting: 3–4 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Not widely documented as toxic; sap may cause mild skin irritation; as a precaution, discourage pets from chewing foliage

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade; flowers most prolifically in full sun
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or clay loam enriched with organic matter; avoid waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 12–16 weeks. Established: deep soak weekly in summer (twice in heatwaves); every 2–3 weeks in winter; consistent moisture produces best flowering.
• Maintenance: Prune after flowering to shape and manage size; feed with balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring; mulch heavily; frost cloth in first 2 winters in cooler areas
• Lifespan: 25–50 years in suitable conditions
• Climate Zones: Suited to warmer SA zones — coastal Adelaide, northern metro, sheltered Hills gardens; frost protection needed in first few winters
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0–7.0)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Fragrant evening feature near outdoor dining and entertaining areas
• Privacy screen or canopy shade tree in larger gardens
• Tropical and Asian-inspired garden designs
• Large containers in sheltered, sunny courtyards

Why You Will Love It

Intensely fragrant flowers, lush evergreen foliage and excellent growth — 'Summerscent' transforms outdoor spaces with jasmine-like perfume on warm summer evenings, combining the best of a shade tree and a fragrance plant in one elegant package.