Flowers of VIPs and Celebrities at World Heritage National Orchid Garden

The orchid family, Orchidaceae, is one of the two largest flowering plant families in the world, the other being the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Orchids are also one of the most widespread and variable families of flowering plants. There are about 30,000 orchid species in the world, making up to 8% of the plant kingdom. They can be found on all continents that support vegetation but are most diverse in the tropics which suits well in Singapore tropical and humid climate.

Orchids are generally herbaceous plants as they do to have woody parts like trees or shrubs. Orchid seeds are also the smallest seeds in the world. Many orchids grow on trees called tree orchids or epiphytic orchids, but they do not receive nutrients from the trees and are therefore not parasites. Many other orchids grow on the ground called ground or terrestrial orchids. And orchids that grow on rocks are called lithophytic orchids. Few others are lianas, climbing on small trees such as Vanilla planifolia. Vanilla is indeed the most famous orchid product, highly valued for its pure, spicy and delicate floral aroma commonly used in baking, ice-cream, perfume making and aromatherapy. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice after saffron.

Dendrobium Jacinda Ardern

Research into the orchid taxonomy and orchid breeding has had a long tradition at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In 1928, Eric Holthum, the then Singapore Botanic Gardens' Director, set up an in vitro propagation unit for orchids, and experiments on orchid propagation were conducted that made possible the mass production of orchid hybrids. 

The National Orchid Garden located within the greater Unesco World Heritage Site, Singapore Botanic Gardens, was officially opened by the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, then Senior Minister, on 20 October 1995 at Burkhill Hall, Singapore Botanic Gardens. The late Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore's first prime minister.

National Orchid Garden

Orchid breeding is a lengthy process but has been tremendously successful and the National Orchid Garden houses the largest and most comprehensive tropical orchid display in Asia. The orchid breeding process takes between 3 to 5 years from pollination to flowering and can take up to 10 years after pollination for a hybrid to be displayed in the garden.

At the National Orchid Garden, there are over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids of orchids. And the Singapore Government has been honouring visiting distinguished guests by naming selected orchid hybrids after them since 1956. The general landscape of the garden is based around the four seasons, i.e., spring, summer and autumn, and winter. The flower colours for spring are yellows, pinks and greens. For summer and autumn, the colours are reds, oranges, maroons, browns and purples. And for winter the colours tend to be white, pale purple and blue.

Anatomy of an orchid

What makes an orchid an orchid? The reproductive structures of orchid flowers are unique. Each flower has both male (the anther and pollinia) and female (the stigma) parts. Orchids have pretty petals and sepals that attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds. While orchid flowers are diverse in shape and irregular in symmetry which means the lower half looks different from the upper, their structure is amazingly uniform. The three sepals and two lateral petals are usually similar in shape and size.

The median petal has evolved into a highly elaborate structure called a lip or labellum that serves as a runway for pollinators to land on and guides them into the flower. The lip usually has a spur which is a tubular projection designed to hold a nectar. In the centre of the flower there is a column which comprises both the female and male reproductive parts. The size of the flowers can vary greatly from just 2mm (0.08 in.) across to flowers with petals of over 80cm (33 in.) long. Orchid plant weight varies to from just a few grams to over a tonne (1,000 kg.) such as the Tiger Orchid!

Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana

Many orchids at the National Orchid Garden are named after visiting state dignitaries in the VIP Garden like Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II, Angela Merkel, Barack and Michelle Obama and Laura bush. There is also a celebrity's section for celebrities such as Stephanie Sun, Jackie Chan, Amitabh Bachan and Shah Rukh Khan.

For VIP orchids, only a few plants with the best traits are selected from a batch of about 300 hybrid progenies for VIP naming and cloning purposes. Once the breeder has selected the parent plants, the pollinia of one parent (female) are inserted onto the stigma of the other parent (female). The pollinia of the receiving (female) parent are removed to prevent self-pollination.

Dendrobium Masako Kotashi Hidenka

An orchid is also posthumously awarded to Princess Diana, who unfortunately did not make it to the garden. Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana, in memory of the Princess of Wales, on 22 September 1997. It is a hybrid of Dendrobium Pattaya Beauty x Dendrobium Fairy Wong. The sepals and petals are a magnificent white and vigorous complimented by an equally beautiful lip. Individual sprays are 45 to 75 centimetres long with 15 to 30 well-arranged flowers. This is a free-flowing hybrid, and the flowers are about 6.5cm (2.6 in.) across.

Dendrobium Stephanie Sun has similarity to Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana as it is mixed with dendrobium phalaenopsis. Dendrobium phalaenopsis specie is commonly mixed to hybrids including to Dendrobium Masako Kotashi Hidenka, in honour of Princess Masako of Japan. So is Dendrobium Faisal El-Fayez, which is a hybrid of Dendrobium Masahito and Hanako and dendrobium phalaenopsis. Faisal El-Fayez is a former prime minister of Jordan.

Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim

Orchids are mostly tropical and epiphytic, perching on forest trees for support only. In fact, 70% of orchids are epiphytic species that can be found growing on tress trunks or branches. Did you know that the national flower is named after an orchid? Vanda (papilionanthe) Miss Joaquim is the National Flower of Singapore since 1981. The free flowering hybrid between Vanda teres and Vanda hookeriana, this was the first orchid hybrid to be described in Singapore.

This plant is named after Agnes Joaquim, an avid horticulturist of Armenian descent, in whose garden the hybrid originated around 1890. It has been since been discovered that the national flower is from papilionanthe genus or species, but to avoid confusion the name 'Vanda' Miss Joaquim remains instead of Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim. 'Papilionanthe' is probably too mouthful for many. Well, actually Singapore is not only the country which has an orchid as a national flower. Colombia in South America also has an orchid, cattleya trianae, commonly known as 'May flower' or 'May lily'. May flower looks purplish just like Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim.

Papilionanda Mimi Palmer

Hybrids derived from various combinations of the sun loving Papilionanthe species, otherwise known as the terete-leaf Vanda, and shade-loving strap-leaved Vanda species are hardy, sun-loving and have long flourished in our climate! The term terete describes the short narrow cylindrical and fleshy needle or pencil-like leaves. This genus consists of about eleven species native to the Asian tropics from Sri Lanka to Sulawesi. In the wild, Papilionanthe trees can be found climbing up tree trunks that have rough barks.

So papilionanthe teres, formerly vanda teres, of which the variety andersonii is the pod or seed parent of our National Flower whereas Papilionanthe hookeriana also known as Vanda hookeriana is the pollen parent. Vanda hookeriana is named after William Jackson Hooker, the first director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England. Papilionanthe hybrids make good landscaping plants with the plants attaining a height of 2 metres (6.6 ft.) and above.

Dancing Lady. Oncidium hybrid

Described by the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Mr. Henry Nicholas Ridley in 1893, a trained orchidologist, Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim was the first orchid hybrid to be described from Singapore. The first Vanda hybrid in the world, Vanda Miss Joaquim was awarded the prestigious First-Class Certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society (UK) in 1897. Flowers may not be abundant all year round, but you can still spot some. It is now grown in the wild too in some parks.

If you pass through Changi Airport Terminal 2 transit area you will be able to find a small orchard garden and Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim is also on display, there. You can also find a display of beautiful Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim at Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome. Though the timing of visits must coincide with the blooming of the flower. Nowadays you can find them in smaller parks all over Singapore and by the roadside too.

Bamboo Orchid

Only five orchids are common in the wild in Singapore and one of them is bamboo orchid. There used to be more than 200 native orchid species, but three-quarters are considered nationality extinct though they can be found in other parts of Southeast Asia. A native terrestrial orchid to Singapore and quite widespread here is Arundina graminifolia, which is more recognised by its common name bamboo orchid. As we have learnt earlier terrestrial orchid grows on the ground as opposed to epiphytic orchids that most orchids belong to.

You can find bamboo orchid in many parks in Singapore as it is a sun-loving orchid. Its flowers develop at the end of the stem, with the three sepals and two lateral petals ranging from white to pink. The third petal is usually in a shade of rose purple with a central patch of bright yellow. Because of its similar purplish colour some may mistake the bamboo orchid to Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim, Singapore's national flower, but you will be able to see the distinct difference in its petal and sepal shape.

A bamboo orchid is so named because the stalk looks like bamboo. As it is native to Singapore and with lots of sun here many hobbyists like to grow this pretty flower in their gardens. You can find bamboo orchids in the wild and in parks like at Jurong Lake Gardens and at MacRitchie Reservoir.

Dendrobium Samurai

Entry to National Orchid Garden is $5. And a minimal fee of only a dollar for seniors and children. National Orchid Garden is within the UNESCO World Heritage Site Botanic Gardens which is free. A great place to wander around for gardening and orchids enthusiast and the general public for a place to admire the colourful flowering plants. Orchid garden opens daily from 8:30am to 7pm. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.

While the orchid garden itself is relatively inexpensive, and the main garden is free, the restaurants and cafes within Singapore Botanic Gardens can be quite upmarket, though the popular Halia restaurant, next to Orchid Garden is worth a visit at least once, or twice. The lush tropical setting and display of cuisine is unique being in a garden. So may want to fill your stomach after enjoying your stroll in Orchid Garden. Halia is a Malay word for ginger.

Aranda Gold Nugget

The orchid garden is closer to the Nassim Gate. It is not that far from the main visitor centre. Surrounding the orchid garden are the Ginger Garden, the Palm Valley and Symphony Lake. Papilionanthe (Vanda) Miss Joaquim cluster is a bit up a hill towards Burkhill Hall inside the garden. There is also a big well-manicured cluster of Vanda Miss Joaquim at the public area near Rainforest. The Ginger Garden was an Orchid Enclosure which preceded the current Orchid Garden.

Burkhill Hall is a colonial style house built in 1868 and is the oldest building in the Gardens. It is also possibly the only surviving example of Anglo-Malayan Plantation house. Burhill Hall is named after the father and son Henry and Humphrey Burkhill who were the Singapore Botanic Gardens directors in the early and mid 1900 respectively. Burkhill Hall is located at the highest point in the garden.

Golden Shower Arch

Tan Hoon Siang mist house showcase rare or unique orchids such as the pleasant chocolatey smelled Vanda Mimi Palmer, while the Yuen-Peng McNeice Bromeliad Collection features over 500 unique varieties, cultivars and hybrids of tropical American bromeliads. During festive seasons such as during Chinese New Year, orchids are decked in red, and during Christmas the orchids are placed or wrapped around in gift boxes.

The Cool House, now Tropical Montane Orchidetum, provides a representation of tropical high elevation areas and features orchid species of Asian, American and African origin, growing on tree trunks, rocks and tree ferns. The highest concentration of orchids is found in tropical mountain forests and this Orchidetum features some rare orchids and plants from different types of vegetation found in tropical mountainous regions.

Tiger Orchid

There is also the arch of the Golden Shower. The golden shower is the Dancing Lady Orchid with its lush yellow flowers covering the arches, great for photo opportunities.

Tiger Orchid is named as such because it looks like a tiger coat or skin. This largest orchid specie in the world, grows on big trees in the lowlands of Southeast Asia and forms immense clump. Tiger orchids can be found all over Singapore including at Gardens by the Bay, Pasir Ris Park, Pulau Ubin, Bedok Reservoir, East Coast Park and MacRitchie Reservoir. The scientific name for Tiger Orchid is grammatophyllum specious. Certainly, easier to say tiger! The clump-forming plants can weigh more than one tonne (1,000 kg) with up to 7,000 flowers! The flower stalks can grow up to 3m (10 ft.) long.

Aranda Super Yellow

Tiger orchids grow well in the wild in Singapore hot and humid tropical climate. However, they bloom only once a year, usually around July-August but when they bloom, they look quite majestic. So next time you are in parks or gardens, look out for tiger orchid.

On mature Rain trees you can see Tiger Orchids clinging on it, as being epiphytic orchids require host for support, though unless the flowers are blooming all you see are the leaves hanging down from the branches. On the ground, orchids are supported by coconut husks and charcoal. The Tiger Orchid flowers can bloom for up to two months.

Dedrobium Barack and Michelle Obama

Orchids are important to horticulture as cut flowers and pot plants, but we also know the food flavour vanilla is derived from the pod or bean of the orchid Vanilla planifolia. The black substance inside the pod comprises the seeds, with each individual speck being one seed.

Many orchids are named after their colours, the common colours being white, yellow, gold, pink and purple. So, there are Aranda Super Yellow, Aranda Singa Gold, Aranda Jitti Gold, Aranda Gold Nugget, Dendrobium Shavin White and Dendrobium Snow White. Soon they will run out of names to name them :). A special Papilionanthe Singapore Bicentennial was created to commemorate the 200 years since Raffles' arrival in Singapore in 1819.

Here are some orchids which you may recognise by their famous names:

Dendrobium Jean Chretien

Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama. [Dendrobium Pink Lips x Dendrobium Sunplaza Park]. This orchid is named after President of the United States, and Mrs. Michelle Obama on 2 August 2016.

Dendrobium Jean Chretien. [Dendrobium Mak See x Dendrobium Anching Lubag], is named after former Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien on his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 13th Nov. 1998.

Dendrobium Bindi Irwin. [Dendrobium Jean Chretien x Dendrobium David Baltimore]. This orchid is named after Australia Zoo Wildlife Warrior on her visit to the National Orchid Garden on 12 April 2013.

ArandaLee Kuan Yew

Aranda Lee Kuan Yew [Arachnis hookeriana x Vanda Golden Moon] and Vanda Kwa Geok Choo. These two flowers were displayed together during a special exhibition at Singapore Botanic Gardens. The founding father of modern Singapore, the late Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore's first prime minister and the architect behind the city's transformation into city in nature. The late Mrs. Kwa Geok Choo was his wife. 

The hybrid Aranda Lee Kuan Yew was registered on 24 March 2015. The flower spray can bear up to 10 flowers each with each bloom measuring about 9.5cm to 10.5cm across. The sepals and petals are bright greenish golden yellow with light tessellation and a tinge of white at the base. It is such a robust and vigorous hybrid with each bloom complemented by a contrasting light brown waxy lip.

Aranda Kwa Geok Choo

Vanda Kwa Geok Choo [Vanda Amelita Ramos x Vanda Harvest Time]. It was first honoured during the opening ceremony of NOG on 20th October 1995. This hybrid produces compact flowering sprays that bear up to 8 well-arranged flowers. Each fragrant and large flower measures 7-9 cm across. 

The dorsal sepal and lateral petals of Vanda Kwa Geok Choo are creamy white with light green on the edges, while the lateral sepals are light green with greenish yellow lip.

Dendrobium Elizabeth

Dendrobium Mahathir Siti Hasmah [Dendrobium Kiyoshi Blue x Dendrobium Pink Lips], is named after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Tun Sr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali on 12 November 2018.

Dendrobium Elizabeth [Dendrobium Mustard x Dendrobium Noor Aishah]. This orchid is named after Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom on the occasion of her visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens in 1972. The twisted petals and the sepals are yellow with light greyish purple streaks, with a lip that is green flushed with greyish purple. The flowers each measure 5.5cm across and the majestic Dendrobium carries up to 45cm inflorescences with 25 to 30 blooms each.

Dendrobium Duke Duchess of Cornwall

Dendrobium Duke Duchess of Cornwall [Dendrobium Halawa Beauty x Dendrobium Blue Diamond]. This orchid is named after Their Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, on the occasion of their visit to the National Orchid Garden on 1 November 2017. The Prince of Wales is Prince Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II.

There is also Vanda William Catherine [Vanda First and Last x Vanda Motes Toledo Blue], named after His and Her Royal Highness, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the occasion of their visit to the National Orchid Garden on 11 September 2012.

This outstanding orchid hybrid is free flowering with each flowering spray growing from 25 to 35 cm long and bears up to 10 blooms, while individual flower is between 7 to 8 cm across. The white petals and sepals with purple red spots are complimented with a dark purple lip. The Duke of Cambridge is Prince Williams, the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. The British Royal Family certainly has many representations in the VIP Orchid Garden.

Dendrobium Angela Merkel

Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher [Dendrobium Concham x Dendrobium Iasianthera], is named after the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, on the occasion of her visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 8 April 1985. This orchid produces inflorescences of between 40 to 50 cm in length with more than 50 spirally arranged flowers each. The flowers measure 5 cm across. The sepals are white at the base and gradually become brownish red towards the apex. The horn-like petals are a clear beetroot purple, becoming purplish brown at the ends. The petals and sepals are accompanied by a dark pink tip.

Dendrobium Angela Merkel [Dendrobium Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono x Dendrobium taurinum], is named after the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, on the occasion of Her Excellency visit to the National Orchid Garden on 2 June 2011. This Dendrobium hybrid is a vigorous and free-flowering antelope. Each flowering sprays are 50 centimetre long bearing more than 20 evenly arranged flowers. The bright coloured flowers are about 5 centimetres across. The white sepals and the white petals with purple veins are adorned with a captivating dark purple lip.

Aranthera Anne Black

Aranthera Anne Black [Arachnis Maggie Oei x Renanthera coccinea]. This hybrid is the first VIP Orchid named by the Singapore Botanic Gardens, in 1956. It was named after Lady Black, wife of Sir Robert Black, Governor of Singapore. It is an outstanding orchid as cut-flower as older blooms in a spray do not fade when subsequent flowers open.

Dendrobium Matti [Dendrobium Masahito and Hanaka x Dendrobium Burana Pearl], is named after Matti Van haven, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland, on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 18 November 2009.

Papilionanda Aung San Suu Kyi

Dendrobium Grímsson-Moussaieff [Dendrobium Edfrans Charming x Dendrobium nindii] is named after His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of the Republic of Ireland and Madam Dorrit Moussaieff on the occasion of their visit to NOG on 11 November 2015.

Papilonanda Aung San Suu Kyi [Papilionanda Josephine van Brero x Vanda Varut Fuchsia] is named after Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myannmar, on the occasion of her visit to the National Orchid Garden on 1 December 2016.

Papilionanda Andrea Bocelli

Dendrobium Sheikh Hasina [Dendrobium Sunplaza Park x Dendrobium Seletar Chocolat] is named after Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, on the occasion of her visit to NOG on 18 March 2018.

Dendrobium Amitabh Bachchan [Dendrobium Nilda Patricia Zedillo x Dendrobium Dandy dame] is named after Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Indian film star, on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 12 March 2004.

Papilionanda Andrea Bocelli [Papilionanda Jocelyn x Vanda Manuvadee], is named after Mr. Andrea Bocelli on the occasion of the YTL Concert Celebration in Singapore on 8 May 2010.

Dendrobium Joe and Jill Biden

Dendrobium Jacinda Ardern [Dendrobium Lim Wen Gin x Dendrobium Takashimaya Singapore] is named after The Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand on 19 April 2022. See photo at the top.

Dendrobium Joe and Jill Biden [Dendrobium Jane Denny x Dendrobium Anne Rogge] is named after the President of United States, Joseph R Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, on the occasion of their visit on 26 July 2013, while President Joe Biden was the Vice President of the United States of America.