Plant of the Month
Tagetes erecta
African Marigold (Tagetes erecta) is an herbaceous plant that can grow up to 1.5 m tall. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, it is now cultivated worldwide for its showy flowers, which come in bright shades of yellow, orange and cream. The flowers are celebrated for their vibrant colours and positive symbolism across different cultures. Both the flowers and leaves are aromatic when crushed. In Singapore, the plant grows best under full sun in moist, well-draining, fertile soil, and pinching young plants encourages bushier growth.
Animal of the Month
Cypraea tigris
Cypraea tigris, commonly known as the Tiger Cowrie, is a large sea snail found on the ocean floor in the Indo-Pacific region. Once common, it is now much less abundant due to shell collecting and habitat destruction. In Singapore, it is exceedingly rare.
An Aromatic Connection
Did you know that a plant native to Singapore was part of tea traditions across Asia? The Sambau Paya (Chloranthus officinalis) is a small shrub that is Critically Endangered in Singapore, found naturally in the shady, cool and damp environments of primary and secondary tropical forests. The species was once popularly used to prepare tea in Indonesia before Camellia sinensis gained prominence as the familiar tea plant in the 19th century. Its fragrant, pale yellowish-white flowers are also used in China to scent tea leaves, imparting a pleasant fragrance and a sweet, refreshing aftertaste.
Chloranthus officinalis
Hopea odorata and Hopea sangal
Did you know that Hopea odorata and Hopea sangal can be distinguished by differences in their leaves, leaf stalks, young twigs, domatia and flowers? Pick up quick tips from our botanists with this easy-peasy comparison guide!
Hopea odorata and Hopea sangal.jpg)
Cashew Apple
The Cashew Nut tree (Anacardium occidentale) is popular for its roasted seed. However, its young leaves and fleshy fruit also known as the 'apple' are also edible! The fresh cashew 'apple' is juicy and said to taste sweet with a slight astringency. The young leaves are pale green to reddish in colour and are eaten in rural communities in Malaysia and Indonesia. The leaves are blanched and served as ulam with sambal belacan, or added to nasi kerabu adding a sour and subtly astringent flavour to dishes. Delicious!
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Finger-licking Citrus peels
Besides its unusual appearance, did you know the fruit of Citrus medica or Fingered Citron makes excellent zest? The Fingered Citron has extremely thick peels that makes up most of the fruit. Its rind is rough and has a bumpy texture, but is fragrant and lacks the bitterness commonly found in lemon and orange peels. This citrus fruit is a great alternative in recipes calling for lemon or orange zest. The zest can also be diced and cooked in sugar water to make candied fruit, perfect for snacking!
Finger-licking Citrus peels
Fireworks!
The Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetiformis) is a bushy shrub with a graceful, weeping habit. Its slim branches begin upright and then arch over as they grow, bearing clusters of small, tubular flowers that look like firecrackers. While typically red, the yellow and salmon cultivars are also seen in Singapore. This plant flowers freely and grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Its vibrant flowers attract biodiversity such as sunbirds and butterflie. With its slender stems and small leaves, the Firecracker Plant creates a stunning fountain effect as it drapes over walls, rocks, or hanging baskets, adding visual interest to the garden.
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Flora and Fauna Tributes to Singapore
A total of 2053 vascular plant species have been recorded to be native to Singapore (Singapore Red Data Book, 2008). Of these at least 20 species have scientific names derived from "Singapore", their scientific names containing "singaporeana", "singaporeanum", "singaporensis", "singaporense", "singapurensis" and "singapureana". There are also others with common names that pay tribute to the country in which they are or were naturally found, such as the Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum). The animals are not to be missed either, with native fauna named after our island state, such as the Singapore Freshwater Crab (Johora singaporensis) and the Daisy Sponge (Coelocarteria singaporensis). As a novel way of celebrating National Day, read more about some of these Singaporean plants and animals on Flora&FaunaWeb by searching for their names.
Flora and Fauna Tributes to Singapore
Sunda Slow Loris
Video of wild Sunda Slow Loris in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.
Flora & Fauna News
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Flora of Singapore Volume 4 is out!
11 November 2026
Flora of Singapore Volume 4 is out!
11 November 2026
From the soursop, pepper to nutmeg, this latest volume, published on 4 September 2026, covers 17 plant families including Annonaceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae, Piperaceae and Myristicaceae, many of which are well known for their practical and cultural uses. This deepens our understanding of Singapore's rich botanical heritage and marks another milestone in a landmark 14-volume series, which is expected to be completed in ten years, with contributions from experts around the world.
Biodiversity in Pulau Ubin
24 September 2026
Biodiversity in Pulau Ubin
24 September 2026
Once shaped by the bustle of farms, fishponds, and granite quarries, Pulau Ubin has quietly transformed into one of Singapore's most remarkable natural refuges. Over the past five decades, secondary forests and mangroves have reclaimed the land, with satellite imagery showing more green cover today than in the 1950s. A recent update to the island's biodiversity inventories now provides benchmark references across 13 flora and fauna groups, offering a richer understanding of Pulau Ubin's natural heritage and its potential role as an ecological stepping stone for wildlife dispersal to the main island of Singapore.
A new night-blooming species of Hoya (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) from Borneo
11 August 2026
A new night-blooming species of Hoya (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) from Borneo
11 August 2026
Researchers from the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Bogor Botanic Gardens have discovered a new species of night-blooming Hoya. Hoya biruensis, has a shrubby to epiphytic habit with pendulous stems. Its pinkish-cream, round-shaped, single flowers open after sunset, partly close the next day, re-open the second night and wither the following morning. This species is only known to occur in the primary heath forest of Bukit Biru in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Additions to the Flora of Singapore
27 July 2026
Additions to the Flora of Singapore
27 July 2026
Since 2025, 3 plant species are now recognised by researchers to have become naturalised in Singapore: Boat Lily (Tradescantia spathacea), Limeberry (Triphasia trifolia) and West Indian Nettle (Laportea aestuans). Another 2 species are discovered to be casual, meaning they occur in the wild but have not yet formed self-sustaining populations: Fire Bush (Hamelia patens) and Rose Cactus (Leuenbergeria bleo). All of them except West Indian Nettle are widely grown in Singapore for their ornamental foliage, flowers and fruits. Monitoring the populations of these species in the wild for ecological balance with Singapore’s native flora is important.