Plant Encyclopedia
1. Fishtail Palm (Caryota Partis)
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Called “Fishtail palm” because the leaves of the palm look like fishtails
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Used to scare of animals or insects from laying eggs here as they will think that predators are nearby
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Where can it be found at Hort Park: Near the entrance at the Alexandra Road Bridge at the map directory
2. Scarlet Spiral Flag (Costus woodsonii Maas)
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This magnificent type of ginger is very easy to grow and flowers most of the year.
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Scarlet Spiral Flag, named thus because of its lovely flower head that comes forth as a luscious red button,
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It is one of the robust spiral gingers in the Costus family that has more than 100 species
3. Changi Tree (Sindora Wallichi)
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Changi was named after this tree .
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The large tree belongs to the bean family and is very leafy when mature
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Fun fact: A similar tree was found in Changi, and was an estimated 76m, and had been marked on maps as a landmark
4. Pride of Burma (Amherstia nobilis)
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Named after Lady Sarah Amherst. She was an early collector of Asian plants and was honored with the plant’s name after her death.
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Called the queen of flowering trees
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It has red flowers which are 5-petaled and unequal
5. Phillondenron 'Gold' (Philodendron erubescens 'Gold')
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They are usually grown indoors as they have air purification purposes and grows well in indoor light conditions
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Fun Fact: Exposing the leaves under full sunlight will cause the leaves to burn
6. Golden Bells (Tecoma stans)
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The bright yellow flowers are known to attract many bees, butterflies and sunbirds for its nectar
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They are believed to have medicinal properties, ranging from treating diabetes to treating digestion issues
7. Rain Tree (Samanea Saman)
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Commonly found all around Singapore
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Are called rain trees because their leaves fold up when it rains, similar to an umbrella
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Fun Fact: Though Rain Trees are so common in Singapore currently, they are not native Singapore and was introduced in 1876
8. Laksa Leaves (polygonum odoratum)
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Used in making laksa
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Very popular plant in Vietnam as this is an essential ingredient in many of the famous dishes in the Vietnamese cuisine.
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The top of its leaf is dark green, with chestnut-colored spots while the leaf's bottom is burgundy red.
9. Tamarind (Tamarindus Indica)
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Well known for its edible pulp
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The tamarind tree produces pod-like fruit that contains an edible pulp used in cuisines around the world
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Famous in Thailand as a finger food
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Has many medicinal benefits such as improving digestion, protect heart health, improve blood circulation etc.
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Fun Fact: Tamarind can be grinded to make a tamarind paste or the pulp of the tamarind to be used in making dishes such as Assam Prawn
10. Lettuce Tree (Pisonia Grandis)
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The leaves are used by natives as cattle feed. They also have medicinal properties and cooked and eaten when suffering from rheumatism or arthritis.
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The young leaves come in handy as a leafy vegetable, like lettuce, hence the name.
13. Bamboo Orchid ( Arundina Graminifolia)
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Only 200 of the plants are growing naturally in Singapore, the species is close to extinction here.
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However, it is very common along the roadside of East Malaysia.
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Stem looks like those of the bamboo, hence the name
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14. Timor Black Bamboo (bambusa lako)
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The Timor Black Bamboo is native to China
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It can be used for timber, food (especially for Pandas), and the making of musical instruments
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They are usually found in clusters and grow up to a height of 15m
15. Yellow Walking Iris
(Trimezia Steyermarkii )
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It is a unique plant since it tolerates both drought and flooding, so it can be grown in a container with water, terrarium, aquarium or just a small dish.
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It tolerates full shade as well, thus can be kept in low light conditions as a house plant
16. Great Rosebay (Tabernaemontana Corymbosa variegated)
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The Great Rosebay flowers all year and has the shape of a pinwheel
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It is used in China for medicinal purposes such as helping heal fractures
17. Silver Bismarck
(Bismarckcia nobilis "Silver")
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This plant originated from the Madagascar
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This is a palm tree which stands out because of it’s silvery fronds, which were often used for roofing & basketry by indigenous people
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Fun fact: This plant is named after a the first chancellor of the German empire named Otto von Bismarck
18. Caricature Plant (graptophyllum pictum)
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The Caricature Plant has bright yellow-green leaves with red flowers
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Fun fact: Caricature is actually an art-form which often exaggerates a person's characteristics in order to create a comic or grotesque effect. Sadly, there is actually no real reason why this plant is called caricature
19. Spanish Shawl
(Heterotis Rofundifalia)
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Often used as a decoration on fences and walls, or as a trailing plant in hanging basket
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Used in Africa to treat intestinal problems and expel worms
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20. Giant False Agave
(Furcraea Foetida 'Striata')
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The leaves are green on the outline and has a thick cream colour in the middle
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It is comprised of a rosette (circular arrangement) of leaves that can grow up to 1.5m in length
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Originated in North and South America
21. Langsat (Lansium Domesticum)
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Fruits grow like grapes and is commonly sold in the market
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There are many medicinal uses such as the bitter seeds can be pounded and mixed with water to make a deworming and ulcer medication.
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The bark is used to treat dysentery and malaria and bark grinded into powder can also be used to treat scorpion stings.
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The fruit's skin is used to treat diarrhea, and in the Philippines the dried skin is burned as a mosquito repellent.
22. Saraca (Saraca Thaipingensis)
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The trees are grown in distinctly warm humid climates.
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The trees themselves are grown for their upturned flowers which have clusters in yellow, orange or red.
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The leaves are pinnate and have paired leaflets. Typically, these trees are accustomed to the shade of other trees. Most species of Saraca are trees characteristic of particular streams.
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Fun Fact: Saraca Asoca (Not this tree) but also a type of Saraca Tree is believed to be the tree which Buddha was born under
23. Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito)
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In Cambodia, this fruit is called "Plae Teuk Dos" which means milk fruit due to its milky juices inside.
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The fruits are used as a fresh dessert fruit; it is sweet and often served chilled. Infusions of the leaves have been used against diabetes and articular rheumatism and it has antioxidant properties.
24. False Lime (Suregada Multiflora)
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A tree native to Singapore’s coastal areas, the False Lime
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It produces clusters of small white flowers and fruits that resemble small limes, hence its common name.
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Similarly, its Malay common name – Merlimau – is derived from the Malay words – ‘mer’ (similar to) and ‘limau’ (lime).
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The fruits turn orange and splits open when ripe.
25. Teak (Tectona Grandis)
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Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species, Tectona grandis, which grows to over 130 feet tall.
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Teak has a high oil content, giving it the highest decay-resistance among all natural wood products
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Teak is resistant to termites and other pests and can be used to build a variety of wooden products
26. Flame of Forest (Delonix Regua)
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The Flame of the Forest gets its name from the scarlet flowers that cover its entire crown whenever it is in full bloom.
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Its broad umbrella-shaped crown makes it a good shade tree
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Additionally, the Flame of the Forest also has medicinal properties. The bark is used as a febrifuge, a drink with cooling effect that prevents fever
27.Golden Tea Tree
( Melaleuca 'Revolution Gold)
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The golden tea tree produces a honey that has exceptionally high levels of antibacterial activity.
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It is native to Northern Australia and can grow up to 10 metres tall
28. Gaharu (Thymelaeaceae)
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The gaharu tree is extremely valuable and can sell at up to 9 million USD per kilo at its highest grade
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It is also claimed that tea made from Gaharu leaves have numerous health benefits it can help reduce blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, treat hangovers, constipation, flatulence, gout and asthma.