Singapore's Botanic Gardens

Established in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens played an important historical role in the introduction and promotion of many plants of economic value to Southeast Asia, including the Para rubber tree. Over the years, the gardens have continued to introduce and rejuvenate its horticultural attractions while continuing its mission of connecting people and plans.

In the 1960s, the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew envisioned Singapore as a Garden City. By actively supplying plants for streetscapes and parks, the botanic gardens contributed significantly towards this realization. A school of Ornamental Horticulture was set up in 1972 to provide trained personnel for the Garden City’s cause, and this established the skills base upon which the modern Gardens is founded.

The gardens have also been at the center of Singaporean culture since its foundation. It was the ‘neutral’ meeting place for families to introduce partners in former arranged marriages; in 1959, it was the venue for a multicultural concert where Malay, Chinese and Indian performances shared the stage for the first time. This was followed by a three-month series of events that shaped the formation of the multiracial culture as the island prepared for independence.

Today, the 82-hectare Gardens is a key civic and community space, and a national tourist destination. Attracting annual visitors of more than 4.7 million, it is also an important institution for tropical botanical and horticultural research, education and conservation. Singapore has moved on to its next phase of greening: from garden city to city in a garden— the continual development of the gardens is a key to Singapore’s green vision.

The gardens showcase the most spectacular tropical flora, including more than 10,000 types of plants and the region’s most significant living collection of documented palms, orchids, cycads and gingers. Its historic 19th century garden landscape is well preserved and includes the earliest ornamental designed lake in Singapore.