How Singapore Prevails as a “City in Nature” With Flowers All Over the Island

From The Lion City to Garden City, Singapore has quite few monikers but they often suggest one thing — the small island-nation is packed with nature. This is proven by the number of nature parks, botanical gardens, and animal sanctuaries you’ll find throughout the city. Other times, however, its nature attractions just emerge out of nowhere. This is the case of Singapore flowers.

Very much like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, Singapore takes pride in beautiful flora. The distinction likes in the fact that Singapore flowers are often brushed aside in favour of artificial places of interest. Yes, even when these flower attractions, courtesy of NParks, are literally found all over the city. Not to mention, they can be enjoyed free of charge.

NParks had hoped to change this by going all out in decorating Singapore’s streets, highways, and other public spaces with all sorts of native and imported flowers. Among them are Cat Claw Ivy, Pink Mempat, Malayan Crape Myrtle, Bougainvillea, and Yellow Saraca. Mostly season-specific, the Singapore flowers have already caught the attention of Singaporeans and Singapore expats alike.

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Trumpet Tree, Singapore’s own cherry blossoms

While these flowers are certainly eye-catching, locals say that Trumpet Tree is perhaps the most special of them all. Also known by the names, Pink Poui, New World Trumpet, and Rosy Trumpet, these perennial trees are commonly dubbed as the Singapore sakura or cherry blossoms.

Like cherry blossoms, Trumpet Trees have a seasonal flowering characteristic and soft-hued crown flowers (pink or white). Because of this, the trees are easily recognisable from a distance. The name comes from the fact that the flowers actually are shaped like a “large and showy” trumpet which comes with five petals. They can grow from five to eight centimetres long.

“Flowering is typically triggered by heavy rains after a long hot and dry spell, usually between March and April and again between August and September,” NParks says. “Blooms last for several days before wilting. Planted along road sides or in parks, the tree provides shade. Flowers are spectacular, and form a pink carpet on the ground around the tree when they falls.”

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Where to find Singapore sakura and other flowers

As of 2021, some underrated places where you’ll see Singapore flowers include Pasir Ris Industrial Drive 1 (Cat Claw Ivy), Tampines Expressway (Pink Mempat and Malayan Crape Myrtle), and Serangoon Park Connector (Yellow Saraca). The same flowers can also be found along Havelock Road and Farrer Road, respectively.

Meanwhile, The Trumpet Trees in Singapore are usually found in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, East Coast Park, Ulu Pandan Park Connector, Chai Chee Street, and plenty other places. To know which is closest from you, you can check the TreesSG page of NParks. There, you’ll find a map showing the trees in Singapore group according to species or by flowering trees, according to NParks.

Featured image credit: Hanim Yahman via NParks