Newcomers To Your Neighbourhood

20210625_Nim terraces and collections roadside (30)

Want to add a pop of colour to your surroundings or attract butterflies to the neighbourhood?

Here are five plants suitable for roadside verges, balcony gardens and allotment plots that will brighten up any green space and attract biodiversity to your neighbourhood.

siglap east community garden (6) JLG (9) Whether you have a balcony garden or an allotment plot, add some colour to your garden with our suggestions

Rain Lily

Photo credit: Shi Biying

Native to certain South American countries like Colombia and Peru, the Rain Lily (Zephyranthes rosea) is an attractive plant you can now grow right at your doorstep!

While its leaves are flat and liner, grassy in nature, its produces flower stems that bears pretty pink flowers. Requiring full sun or semi-shaded conditions as well as moderate watering, the plants is easy to grow in well-drained soils. It is propagated by seeds.

Segan

Portulaca oleracea (1)

The Segan (Portulaca oleracea) is a shrub that has fleshy obovate leaves with smooth, reddish edges. Each leaf tip is broad and rounded. Its stem is also reddish with soft, white hairs. It produces small, cup-shaped flowers composed for five translucent yellow petals. Each flower has six to 10 stamens which are also bright yellow.

The plant grows well with full sun and requires little water. It can be propagated by seed or stem cutting. Requiring a moderate level of maintenance, the plant grows quickly and is suitable for use in rockery or desert gardens.

Alternanthera cultivars

Alternanthera cultivars are a good example of an ornamental foliage that provides colour to the usual greenery and draws people’s attention to your garden. From the family Amaranthaceae, these shrubs require full sun to semi-shade and moderate water.

Depending on its cultivar, the plant may have red-coppery-green leaves to green-yellow curly leaves. This adds both texture and visual interest to any garden.

Egyptian Star Cluster

With is dark green and deeply veined leaves and deep red star-shaped, five-petalled flowers, the Egyptian Star Cluster (Pentas lanceolata) is a biodiversity-attracting option, providing nectar for butterflies.

Easy to grow, it should be planted in fertile, well-drained soil that is enriched with compost and organic matter to retain moisture in the soil. The plant is heat tolerate and can propagate by seeds. It flowers bloom best when grown in full sun but the plant can also flower in the shade.

Golden Dewdrop

Photo credit: Pauline Tay
The Golden Dewdrop (Duranta erecta) has light purple, tubular flowers that are arranged in clusters known as racemes that grow up to 15 cm long. They also attract butterflies.

Although this large evergreen shrub grows best in full sun, it is also tolerant of semi-shade conditions. It requires moderate water and can be propagated by seed or stem cuttings. This species flowers continuously throughout the year, keeping your garden colourful and pretty at all times.

Living in a City in Nature

The City in Nature vision seeks to bring greenery closer to all residents. The community plays a key role in the ownership and stewardship for nature which will benefit our health and well-being.

If you are gardening newbie, visit NParksSG, our refreshed YouTube channel that serves as a one-stop repository for some 300 video resources. It covers topics ranging from types of soil needed for your garden and how to plant, harvest and even cook your edibles.

For additional information, check out our list of Gardening Resources.

For more information about the flora and fauna found in Singapore, visit NParks Flora and Fauna Web.

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Text by Hong ZhongZhi and Jacqueline Chua

Download the NEAR mobile app to find a route via our park connectors or trails.

Newcomers To Your Neighbourhood

National Parks Board