Guide to Trees Native to Singapore
Here’s a guide to trees native to Singapore. Singapore, despite its small size and urban development, is home to a rich variety of native tree species, many of which are found in its remaining rainforests, mangroves, and coastal areas. These trees play a vital role in the ecosystem, providing habitat for wildlife, stabilizing soil, and contributing to the city-state’s “Garden City” vision. This guide highlights some notable native trees, their characteristics, habitats, and significance.
1. Tembusu (Cyrtophyllum fragrans / Fagraea fragrans)
- Description: The Tembusu is a large evergreen tree that can grow up to 40 meters tall. It has a distinctive deeply fissured, dark brown bark and unique perpendicular branching. Its small, creamy white flowers are fragrant, especially at night, and it produces small, bitter red berries.
- Habitat: Found in primary and secondary forests across Singapore, including the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. It thrives in well-drained soils.
- Significance: The Tembusu is one of Singapore’s most iconic native trees. Its durable wood was traditionally used for making chopping boards and furniture. A famous specimen in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is featured on the Singapore $5 banknote.
- Blooming Season: Typically flowers twice a year, around May and October.
- Interesting Fact: The tree’s strong wood and deep roots make it highly resilient, allowing it to withstand storms.
2. Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus)
- Description: The Angsana is a large deciduous tree that can reach heights of 30-40 meters. It has a dense, drooping crown of compound leaves, bright yellow flowers that bloom briefly (often for just a day), and flattened, disc-shaped fruits with papery wings.
- Habitat: Native to coastal forests and found naturally along Singapore’s shores, it is also widely planted in urban areas and parks.
- Significance: Known for its rose-scented hardwood, the Angsana was one of the earliest trees planted in Singapore’s urban greening efforts. It provides ample shade and is a popular street tree, though it was affected by a fungal disease (Angsana Wilt) in the 1990s.
- Blooming Season: Flowers after dry spells, often around April to June.
- Interesting Fact: When damaged, the tree exudes a dark red latex that resembles blood.
3. Sea Almond (Terminalia catappa)
- Description: The Sea Almond is a large, semi-deciduous tree that grows up to 25-35 meters tall. It has large, glossy, leathery leaves that turn red or yellow before falling, and small, greenish-white flowers that develop into almond-shaped fruits.
- Habitat: Commonly found along Singapore’s coastlines, beaches, and mangroves, such as at East Coast Park, Changi Beach, and Pulau Ubin.
- Significance: The tree’s broad canopy provides shade, and its fruits are eaten by birds and bats. The leaves are used in aquariums for their antibacterial properties and at the Singapore Zoo as food for proboscis monkeys.
- Blooming Season: Flowers intermittently throughout the year.
- Interesting Fact: It sheds its leaves twice a year, often linked to dry seasons, giving it a striking seasonal appearance.
4. Yellow Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum)
- Description: The Yellow Flame is a medium to large tree, growing up to 20-30 meters tall. It has a spreading crown, bipinnate compound leaves, and produces clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers followed by flat, reddish-brown seed pods.
- Habitat: Native to coastal areas and forests in Singapore, it is also widely planted along roadsides and in parks.
- Significance: Its vibrant yellow blooms make it a popular ornamental tree. It provides shade and is well-adapted to Singapore’s tropical climate, tolerating dry conditions.
- Blooming Season: Flowers frequently, especially after dry spells, with peaks around April to August.
- Interesting Fact: It is sometimes confused with the Rain Tree due to similar leaves, but its smaller leaflets and yellow flowers distinguish it.
5. Jelutong (Dyera costulata)
- Description: The Jelutong is a tall tree that can reach up to 60 meters in height. It has a straight trunk, smooth grey bark, and compound leaves with small leaflets. It produces small, star-shaped flowers and winged seeds.
- Habitat: Found in Singapore’s primary rainforests, such as Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
- Significance: Historically, its latex was used to make chewing gum, and its lightweight wood was prized for furniture and carvings. It is now rare due to habitat loss.
- Blooming Season: Flowers irregularly, often after rain.
- Interesting Fact: A large Jelutong in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is believed to be part of the original forest vegetation predating the gardens.
6. Sea Gutta (Planchonella obovata)
- Description: The Sea Gutta is a medium-sized tree, growing up to 15-20 meters tall. It has glossy, dark green leaves and produces small, white flowers and round, edible fruits.
- Habitat: Native to rocky and sandy coastal areas, it is found along Singapore’s shores and in urban parks where it adapts well to harsh conditions.
- Significance: Its fruits are eaten by birds, and its hardy nature makes it suitable for urban planting. It was once a source of gutta-percha, a latex used for insulation.
- Blooming Season: Flowers throughout the year, with fruits ripening intermittently.
- Interesting Fact: It thrives in poor soils and is highly salt-tolerant, making it ideal for coastal environments.
7. Nipah Palm (Nypa fruticans)
- Description: The Nipah Palm is a unique, trunkless palm that grows up to 10 meters tall. It has long, feathery fronds and produces clusters of brown, round fruits. Unlike most palms, it grows in a sprawling manner.
- Habitat: Found in Singapore’s mangrove forests and tidal zones, such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Pulau Ubin.
- Significance: The Nipah Palm is a key species in mangrove ecosystems, stabilizing soil and providing habitat for marine life. Its leaves are used for thatching, and its sap can be tapped to make sugar or alcohol.
- Blooming Season: Flowers and fruits year-round.
- Interesting Fact: It is one of the few palms that grow in brackish water, thriving in muddy, tidal areas.
8. Simpoh Ayer (Dillenia suffruticosa)
- Description: The Simpoh Ayer is a large shrub or small tree, growing up to 10-15 meters tall. It has large, oval leaves, bright yellow flowers with five petals, and pink, star-shaped fruits that split open to reveal seeds.
- Habitat: Common in Singapore’s forests, swamps, and disturbed areas, including the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Batok Nature Park.
- Significance: It is a pioneer species, quickly colonizing open areas. Its leaves were traditionally used to wrap food, and its fruits are eaten by birds.
- Blooming Season: Flowers year-round, with peaks during wet seasons.
- Interesting Fact: The flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon, lasting only a day.
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Growing Tips for Native Singapore Trees
1. Climate Adaptation: Singapore’s tropical climate suits these trees well, with high humidity and temperatures between 25-33°C. Ensure proper drainage, as heavy rainfall is common.
2. Soil: Most native trees prefer well-drained, loamy soil. Coastal species like the Sea Almond and Nipah Palm tolerate sandy or muddy soils.
3. Watering: Trees like the Nipah Palm and Jelutong thrive in wet conditions, while others, like the Yellow Flame and Angsana, are drought-tolerant once established.
4. Sunlight: Most require full sunlight, though some, like the Simpoh Ayer, can tolerate partial shade.
5. Propagation: Many can be grown from seeds or cuttings. The Sea Almond and Tembusu are relatively easy to propagate, while the Jelutong may require more care due to its rarity.
Singapore’s native trees are a testament to the island’s rich natural heritage, surviving amidst rapid urbanization. From the towering Tembusu to the resilient Nipah Palm, these trees contribute to biodiversity, provide shade, and hold cultural significance. Efforts like the OneMillionTrees movement aim to preserve and expand this green legacy, ensuring that future generations can enjoy these natural treasures. Whether in forests, parks, or along streets, these trees connect Singaporeans to their ecological roots.
