Know 10 Trees
With an area of 724 square kilometres and a population of 5.6 million people, Singapore has one of the highest population densities in the world.
Yet, sharing this space with us are over 2000 recorded native plant species. In total, there are about two million trees planted along roadsides, in parks and state land. It is no wonder Singapore is known internationally as a Garden City.
As a citizen of this Garden City, how well do we know our trees?
Without them, the city would be a harsh landscape of concrete buildings. Trees serve to soften the surroundings, adding beauty and colour to the scenery. They also offer a welcome respite from the tropical heat and glare, while we are outdoors at work or at play.
Do take a closer look at ten of the most commonly found trees in Singapore. They have always been around us; let’s take some time to get to know them.
The large and majestic Rain Tree can be seen growing by our roadsides. It provides plenty of shade with its big umbrella-shaped crown
The Angsana is a large deciduous tree that grows up to 40m tall. It can be recognised by its drooping, dome-shaped crown.
The Yellow Flame grows up to 20m tall. It is a popular tree for roadside planting. It is drought-resistant, which makes it well adapted to Singapore’s sunny urban conditions.
The Senegal Mahogany is a fast growing evergreen tree. It can grow to more than 30m in height, and has a girth of 1 – 2m. It has a straight, robust and cylindrical trunk, with buttresses at the base.
The Broad-leafed Mahogany is a large hardwood tree that can grow up to 30m or more. It can be easily recognised by its crown, which is dense dark green and round to oblong in shape.
The Tembusu is one of Singapore’s most distinctive trees. This native of Singapore is a large, evergreen tree that grows up to 40m in height.
The Sea Apple is a tall coastal tree of this region that grows up to 30m in height. It is a robust tree with large white flowers arranged in compact clusters with showy stamens.
The Saga Tree is a deciduous tree that grows up to 15-20m tall. It is hardy, fast-growing, and low-maintenance.
The Trumpet Tree grows up to 18-25m tall, and has a large, broadly conical and shady crown. The tree’s name comes from its large trumpet-shaped flowers, which range in colour from pink to white.
The Sea Almond or Ketapang is a large coastal tree which grows up to 25m tall. It can be recognised by its distinct pagoda shape, formed by its tiered branching pattern.