Bringing the history of singapore to life through the fascinating story of plants
Learn about Singapore's diverse history and culture, told through the fascinating story of plants in the Heritage Gardens. Walk around the four themed gardens and discover how plants are intricately linked to Singapore's culture.
A collection of four themed gardens, the Heritage Gardens will take you through the history and culture of Singapore’s three main ethnic groups and colonial past, through the fascinating story of plants. Explore the Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Colonial Gardens and learn how plants are intricately linked to the culture of each group.
Try to check out the decorative motifs on the blue fence surrounding the Indian garden. They depict fantasies of the supposed natural origins of certain animals from plants, based on the book, Night Life of Trees.
As you leave the Indian Garden towards the Chinese Garden, try to spot the smiling statue of Buddha under a Sacred Tree. The Sacred, Peepal or Bodhi tree is also a medicinal tree with many uses.
This traditional house, built by the Malays using materials solely derived from nature, uses the Nipah or Rumbia Palm for the roof, Nibong Tree trunk for the walls and floors, and Bamboo for the mats and bed.
These verandahs reflect the black and white houses from Singapore’s colonial past. The white paint was quicklime made from crushed shells, while the black paint protected the wood against termites and beetles.
The Indian Garden is laid out in the shape of a traditional folk art floral motif design known as Kolam.
The beautiful sculpture of a human cutout, “Li Xiang”, represents the Chinese leaving home to venture out to foreign lands.
Banana plants are actually herbs because they aren’t woody and the stem is at the base of the huge leaf stalks.
A giant nutmeg sculpture stands in Orchard Road to remind us of the nutmeg orchards that used to line it in the 1830s.