factsheet a- sbg heritage garden · plants like flame violet ( episcia cupreata ), dumb cane...

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Page 1 of 7 MEDIA FACTSHEET A Heritage Garden The Heritage Garden highlights the social history of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, as well as its role in Singapore’s greening journey. Overlooking the Swan Lake, the garden is located on the same lawn where Singapore’s first “Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat”, or People’s Variety Show, took place. The Heritage Garden’s planting palette reflects the variety of species introduced to Singapore in the Garden City campaign, especially plants that were utilised for their colour and fragrance. More than 80 types of plants can be found in the garden, including the Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum), Bread Flower (Vallaris glabra), Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides) and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora). The Garden also features trees with distinctive bark, such as the Yellow Cow Wood (Cratoxylum cochinchinense), Shore Eugenia (Syzygium antisepticum) and Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum), as well as low-growing, shade-tolerant plants like Flame Violet (Episcia cupreata), Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia amoena), and Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum). The Gardens’ role in Singapore’s greening journey The Gardens’ involvement in the greening of Singapore dates as far back as the 1880s, when Nathaniel Cantley – Superintendent of the Gardens at the time – assumed the role of propagating trees for planting in Singapore’s streets, parks and nature areas. A classic street tree introduced during this time was the Rain Tree (Samanea saman). It was raised from seed in the Gardens in 1882, and is now a common sight along roads across the island. Later, Cantley’s successor Eric Holttum would also be credited for popularising the use of Frangipani (Plumeria spp.) and Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) for landscape planting.

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Page 1 of 7

MEDIA FACTSHEET A

Heritage Garden

The Heritage Garden highlights the social history of the Singapore Botanic Gardens,

as well as its role in Singapore’s greening journey. Overlooking the Swan Lake, the

garden is located on the same lawn where Singapore’s first “Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat”,

or People’s Variety Show, took place.

The Heritage Garden’s planting palette reflects the variety of species introduced to

Singapore in the Garden City campaign, especially plants that were utilised for their

colour and fragrance. More than 80 types of plants can be found in the garden,

including the Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum), Bread Flower (Vallaris glabra), Cape

Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides) and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia

pauciflora). The Garden also features trees with distinctive bark, such as the Yellow

Cow Wood (Cratoxylum cochinchinense), Shore Eugenia (Syzygium antisepticum)

and Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum), as well as low-growing, shade-tolerant

plants like Flame Violet (Episcia cupreata), Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia amoena),

and Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum).

The Gardens’ role in Singapore’s greening journey

The Gardens’ involvement in the greening of Singapore dates as far back as the

1880s, when Nathaniel Cantley – Superintendent of the Gardens at the time –

assumed the role of propagating trees for planting in Singapore’s streets, parks and

nature areas. A classic street tree introduced during this time was the Rain Tree

(Samanea saman). It was raised from seed in the Gardens in 1882, and is now a

common sight along roads across the island. Later, Cantley’s successor Eric Holttum

would also be credited for popularising the use of Frangipani (Plumeria spp.) and

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) for landscape planting.

Page 2 of 7

In 1963, recognising that the introduction of greenery would soften the harshness of

urbanisation and improve the quality of life, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew

launched a campaign to transform Singapore into a Garden City.

With more than a century’s worth of botanical and horticultural knowledge, the

Gardens provided the expertise, skills and resources needed to implement the

Garden City vision. A nursery was set up in the Gardens to supply the necessary

plants and trees needed for the greening campaign. For example, in the fiscal year

1979/80, the Gardens was responsible for planting 56,000 ornamental trees, 10,000

fruit trees and 400,000 shrubs. This feat was maintained for over a decade until

some of the propagating work was parcelled out to other agencies supplementary to

the Gardens. In the earlier days of the greening campaign, the Gardens would also

give away plants to the public to encourage them to contribute to the Garden City

transformation.

In 1972, the School of Ornamental Horticulture was established and housed in Burkill

Hall to meet the growing demand for technical expertise in horticulture. Here, the

Gardens’ staff trained officers from other government departments as well as

university students. In 2007, the School of Horticulture’s role was inherited by the

Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE). The Centre continues to provide

training and certification for Singapore’s landscape industry. Today, as Singapore

furthers its vision as a City in a Garden, the Gardens supports Singapore’s greening

efforts through its plant research, education and conservation work.

Background on the Gardens’ economic, scientific and social contributions to

Singapore

Established in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has been an integral part of the

development of modern Singapore. One of the Gardens’ earliest and most important

successes was the introduction, experimentation and promotion of Para rubber in the

late 18th century. This became a major crop that transformed the economic and

social landscape of the region.

The Gardens also pioneered orchid hybridisation and cultivation. In 1928, the

Gardens set up a laboratory to demonstrate how orchid seeds could be raised in

sterile glass flasks with artificial media, soon revolutionising the breeding of hybrids

and founding a new regional horticultural industry.

The Gardens has always been a part of the country’s social and cultural history,

providing a sense of place and identity. It played a pivotal role in promoting racial

cohesion and developing a national culture as Singapore moved towards

independence. On 2 August 1959, founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew officially

Page 3 of 7

opened the inaugural People’s Variety Concert in the Gardens. It was a key historical

milestone marking the first of a series of cultural concerts with a multi-racial theme

organised by Singapore’s then Ministry of Culture. To a crowd of 22,000, Mr Lee said,

“Here, under open skies, Malays, Chinese, Indians will, I hope, discover the

materials for a national art and national culture”. Today, the Gardens still plays an

important role in fostering social cohesion by providing a common space for the

community to bond through various public activities and performances.

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Plants in the Heritage Garden

1

(Photo Credit: Lois Yong)

Common Name: Mempat Scientific Name: Cratoxylum formosum

Chinese name: 越南黄牛木

On 16 June 1963, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, planted a Mempat tree (Cratoxylum formosum) at Farrer Circus. This marked the start of an island-wide greening movement that has continued for more than five decades. The Mempat tree is native to Singapore and the region. It is a medium to large-sized tree with a grey, scaly bark and reddish-pink new leaves that mature to green. Light pink flowers blossom when its leaves shed, emitting a subtle fragrance.

2

(Photo Credit: Chng Mun Whye)

Common Name: Yellow Cow Wood, Kayu Arang Scientific Name: Cratoxylum cochinchinense

Chinese Name: 黄牛木

The Yellow Cow Wood (Cratoxylum cochinchinense) is a deciduous tree species that can grow up to about 30m tall. In urban areas, it is grown as an ornamental tree, admired for its weeping crown, attractive red flushes of new leaves and attractive bark. Its outer bark is pale brown to reddish brown with a smooth to flaky texture. This peels off in angular pieces or in long strips to reveal the inner bark, which is greenish yellow to pink in colour. Parts of the plant, such as the tree’s young shoots, can be eaten raw or cooked with fish or pork. They have a sour and astringent flavour. The roots, bark and twigs are used as a traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, such as colds and diarrhoea.

3

(Photo Credit: Charis Chiang)

Common Name: Bread Flower Scientific Name: Vallaris glabra The Bread Flower (Vallaris glabra) is an evergreen, woody climber that can grow up to 2 - 3m wide. Its flowers open in the morning, but their Pandan or burnt rice-like fragrance is strongest in the evening. This plant was a favourite of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his late wife, who introduced it to the Istana so visiting guests could enjoy the fragrance during official functions.

Page 5 of 7

4

(Photo Credit: Arthur Ng)

Common Name: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Scientific Name: Brunfelsia pauciflora The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora) is a perennial shrub, growing up to 3m tall and spreading 2m wide. It has dense and green foliage, is semi-deciduous in seasonal countries but evergreen in Singapore. It has fragrant flowers that undergo a colour change with age - from purple to lighter blue and finally white before they fade.

5

(Photo Credit: Pauline Tay)

Common Name: Cape Jasmine Scientific Name: Gardenia jasminoides Gardenias are flowering plants from Rubiaceae, or Coffee family. Gardenia species and cultivars produce fragrant flowers and have also been introduced for planting in Singapore. A range of white-flowered Gardenia are planted in the Heritage Garden, including the Gardenia jasminoides.

6

(Photo Credit: Edmund Chia)

Common Name: Bougainvillea Genus: Bougainvillea Bougainvilleas originate from the tropics and subtropics of South America and were introduced into the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the 1920s. The blooms as we know them are not true flowers. The vibrant flower colour of this plant comes from the three large paper-like bracts (specialised leaves) that surround each flower. The papery bracts gave rise to its local name of ‘Bunga Kertas’ (Paper Flower). Bougainvilleas are a common sight in Singapore as they thrive on roadsides and in the planters of overhead bridges and expressways.

Page 6 of 7

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(Photo Credit: Shi Biying)

Common Name: Shore Eugenia Scientific Name: Syzygium antisepticum The Shore Eugenia (Syzygium antisepticum) has a distinctive red trunk with flaky, corky bark. Distributed in Sumatra, Java and Borneo, this tree also produces attractive young leaves that are reddish in colour.

8

(Photo Credit: Boo Chih Min)

Common Name: Capirona, Pau-mulato Scientific Name: Calycophyllum spruceanum The Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum) originates from the wet, humid lowland forests in the Amazon. It is a tree with a relatively straight trunk that is unbranched for the lower half of its height. Its bark is very smooth and the colour can be grey-green to brown.

9

(Photo Credit: NParks FloraFaunaWeb)

Common Name: Flame Violet Genus: Episcia cupreata The species are perennial herbaceous plants characterized by a stoloniferous habit, red (rarely orange, pink, blue or yellow) flowers, and frequently have marked or patterned leaves. They are grown in the tropics, and in temperate regions as houseplants, primarily for their attractive foliage.

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10

(Photo Credit: NParks FloraFaunaWeb)

Common Name: Dumb Cane Genus: Dieffenbachia amoena A robust herbaceous shrub with usually unbranched fleshy stems and large elliptic leaves arching gracefully from the upright stems. Very commonly grown for its foliage, which has interesting patterns and markings, especially as an indoor or house plant.

11

(Photo Credit: Boo Chih Min)

Common Name: Chinese Evergreen Genus: Aglaonema commutatum

Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea, they are

evergreen perennial herbs with stems growing erect or decumbent and creeping. They have been cultivated, hybridised, and bred into a wide array of cultivars. They live in low-light conditions and are popular houseplants.