National Orchid Garden – The Crown Jewel
Singapore Botanic gardens
Singapore

National Orchid Garden – The Crown Jewel

Nestled in the Central Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the national Orchid Garden, one of the masterpieces of garden design. From the entrance, a waterfall with its elegant bronze cranes welcomes visitors to its gently curving trails. Spread over three hectares on the highest hill in the Gardens, the landscape design sets the beauty of the massed effect of over 60 000 colourful orchid-plants against contrasting texture and shapes of tropical foliage.

Opened by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on 20 October 1995, the most comprehensive collection of tropical orchids in the world is the crown jewel of the Gradens. The informal paths within its compound meander through four distinct colour zones. Each contains a palette of colours representing the fours seasons.

Nestled within the National Orchid Gardens is the VIP Orchid Garden. The area is reserved for the crème de la crème of the Garden's hybrids, named after visiting heads of state and international dignitaries. More than 100 orchid hybrids have been named after VIPs – a unique bilateral diplomatic initiative from Singapore. Unique orchid cultivars are housed in the Tan Hoon Siang mist house – set amid lush tropical foliage and, uniquely, cultural artifacts from their countries of origin. Next door is the Bromeliad collection donated by Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice – thousands of plants from hundreds of species and cultivars in the Pineapple family. Located within the National Orchid Gardens, the Coolhouse showcases orchid species which grow in the higher elevation of the tropical montane forests.

The National Orchid Garden achieved a first for the Singapore Botanic Gardens when it won the Singapore Institute of Architects' Handicaps Welfare Association Award for Handicap-friendly attraction in 1998.

On 25 April 2002, the Singapore Botanic Gardens took top honours at the 17th World Orchid Conference Show, wining the prestigious Grand Champion Award with the top landscape exhibit and the Gold Medal for quality.

Visitor Information

Opening hours:

8.30am – 7.00pm daily
(Last ticket sale at 6.00pm)

Refreshments are available at Burkill Hall and Ginger Garden refreshment kiosk

Admission fees:

S$5.00 for Adults
S$1.00 for Students
S$1.00 for Senior Citizens (above 60 years)
Free for Children (12 years and below)

Publications, orchid plantlets and other National Orchid Garden souvenirs are available at the Souvenir Kiosk

Getting there:

To get there by bus, takes SBS Transit No. &, 105, 123, 174, and SMRT No. 75, 77, 106 along Holland Road, and SBS Transit No. 48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170, 186 and SMRT No. 67, 171 along Bukit Timah Road

Parking is available at the Visitor Centre Car Park at Cluny Road and along Tyersall Avenue.

For more information, please visit www.sbg.org.sg