Sago Palm

Cycas, Dioon & Zamia

Sago Plams belong to a group of plants of more than 200 species that are native to East Africa, Central America, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and Polynesia.

They are not palms but belong to a group of primitive plants, whose ancestry date back to the Mesozoic period about 65 - 250 million years ago.

These plants are very hardy and adapt very well to grow in dry climate and poor soils. Some of the Sago Palms in this garden are more than 50 years old.

The seeds and juice of these plants are used in native medicine.

Rose Cactus

Pereskia spp

This group of bushy and leafy un-cactii-like plants comprising 25 species are native to Central and South America. They are considered primitive cactii that have not evolved to grow in dry conditions.

The plants bear attractive large flowers that resemble roses. They are good and trouble-free garden plants as they require very little water and care.

In native medicine, it is used for treatment of diabetes and hypertension.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia tomentosa

Origin: Central America

Devil's Tongue Cactus

Sansieveria spp

This group of leathery, succulent plants of about 70 species are native to Africa. The plant is extremely industructible, having developed a number of adaptations for surviving droughts. Hence, they make very good garden and houseplants, requiring no watering for up to a few months!

The plant is believed to be good air purifiers and also good for Feng Shui - in Chinese Geomancy, the plant is auspicious for successful business.

In Africa, the leaves are used for fibre production and the juice of the plant is used as an antiseptic.

Burn Plant

Aloe vera

Origin: Africa

Aloe vera gel is obtained from this plant

Spiderwort

Tradescantia spp

Spiderworts belong to a family of about 80 species which are native to the Americas. They can be upright or scrambling plants between 30 to 60 centimetres in height. The plants usually grow individually or in clumps in wooded areas and fields.

Sometimes considered weeds, Spiderworts also make good garden plants for their patterned and colourful leaves.

Certain Spiderworts have medicinal and cooling properties and are used in Chinese medicine for treatment of bronchitis, cough and diarrhoea.

Burn Plant

Aloe spp

This is a group of succulent plants comprising of 400 species which are native to Africa. They can be in the form of small herbs or trees like this Tree Aloe.

Burn Plants are acknowledged world-wide for their medicinal and herbal properties. Gel from the plant is consumed for various ailments or applied for treatment of burns, skin and scalp ailments.

References to this plant can be found in the Bible and uses of it as a spice and medicinal herb had been recorded by the ancient people of Egypt and India.

Dragon Fruit Cactus

Hylocereus spp

There are about 10 species of the Dragon Fruit Cactus. The native origin of the plant has not been determined because it grows freely, usually dispersed by birds.

The plant grows like climbers and produces large white flowers which remain open only for one night. This is characteristic of most cactii.

The edible fruits are large and juicy with white, deep purple or yellow flesh. The plant is an important fruit crop.

Century Plant

Agave spp

Century plants comprise about 200 species that originate from dry regions of America. Distinctive features are the rosettes of tough, sword-shaped and spiny-margined leaves.

The plant flowers once and dies after bearing many plantlets on the flower stalk. Smaller plants in the garden are from old Century plants that flowered and died previously.

Century plants are commercially grown for making high quality fibre. The sap is used for making the alcoholic drink Tequila. The flowers and nectar are edible and very nutritious.

Apple Cactus

Cereus repandus

Origin: Central & South America

Saguaro Cactus Sculpture

Carnegia gigantea

Artists: Richard Turner & Eric Carroll

Saguaro Cactus originates from North America and Mexico and is significant for its many uses to the native people of these countries. The plant is slow growing and often takes up to 70 years to produce a branch! The oldest and biggest recorded Saguaro - in Arizona, USA is about 14 metres tall and 150 years old.

The plant is highly endangered and protected. They cannot survive in Singapore's very wet weather.

Purslane

Portulaca spp

Pursland comprise over 100 species found in the tropics and warm, temperate regions of the world. Some are known as Moss Rose or Carpet Rose for their attractive carpet-like appearance and rose-like flowers.

The common Purslane shown here is edible, ableit a very invasive weed. Purslane can be eaten row or cooked and are believed to have cooling properties. It is easy to propagate and grow as can be seen in the way they are growing all over this garden!

Century Plant

Agave spp

Century plants comprise about 200 species that originate from dry regions of America. Distinctive features are the rosettes of tough, sword-shaped and spiny-margined leaves.

The plant flowers once and dies after bearing many plantlets on the flower stalk. Smaller plants in the garden are from old Century plants that flowered and died previously.

Century plants are commercially grown for making high quality fibre. The sap is used for making the alcoholic drink Tequila. The flowers and nectar are edible and very nutritious.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia spp

Prickly Pear Cactus is named for the pear-like fruits they produce. There are about 200 species, many of which are native to America.

An edible type of the plant is the Indian Fig Cactus. The stem and the fruit are eaten raw, cooked or used to make candies, jam or drinks. The plant sap is used for treatment of diabeties and internal injuries.

The food dye Cochineal is manufactured from a certain scale insect which lives on the plant.

Moses-In-The-Cradle

Tradescantia spathacea

Origin: Central America

Sago Palm

Cycas, Dioon & Zamia

There are more than 200 species of Sago Palms. They come from East Africa, Central America, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and Polynesia.

Sago 'palms' are technically not palms. They belong to a group of prehistoric plants which originated from the Mesozoic period about 65 to 250 million years ago.

The plants are hardy and adapt well to dry climates and poor soils. Some of the Sago Palms in this garden are more than 50 years old.

The plant is used in native medicine.

Barrel Cactus

Echinocactus spp

Barel cactii are from Central America. They thrive on sun but cannot tolerate rain, hence the reason for them being grown under this rain-proof shelter.

The steel sculptures of the Golden Barrel Cactus here are by American artists Richard Turner and Eric Carroll. Rust formation on the flowers is intentional and meant to replicate the fibre encrustations on the plant. This is also the artists' attempt to make the sculptures realistic, while showing the metallic texture. The sculpture add a pleasant tactile touch to the plant arrangement.

Bontanka

Pachypodium spp

This plant belongs to a group of 25 species of flowering plants that are native to Madagascar.

The trunk, branch and root of the plant are thickened with water and food-storing tissue. The plant relies on these during seasonal or intermittent drought when leaves have been shed and no water is available. In addition to their ability to retain water, the thickened trunks and branches are also photosynthetic. The plant can synthesize nutrients even when all the leaves are lost and the plant has used up all the stored food.

Apple Cactus

Cereus spp

The Apple Cactus is native to South America and is also known as the Hedge Cactus. Mature plants can reach up to a height of 10 metres, with their trunks measuring 10 - 20 centimetres in diameter.

The plant produces yellow or white fragrant night-blooming flowers which stay open only for one night. The flowers are usually pollinated by moths, bats or night flying insects, form into small apple-like fruits which are also known as Pitaya or Peruvian Apple. The edible flesh is white, sweet, and contains small, crunchy seeds which are often dispursed by birds.

Devil's Bone Cactus

Euphorbia trigona

Origin: Africa, Asia

Ponytail Tree

Beaucarnea spp

The Ponytail Tree belongs to a group of 4 species of flowering plants that are native to Central America. The plant has adapted to grow in very dry regions by storing water in their large globular bases.

Ponytail trees can grow to a height of 10 metres, with trunk measuring 20 to 40 centimetres in diameter. Younger plants are usually single stemmed and start to branch when about 5 to 10 years or after they flower.

Some of the plants here are more than 30 years old.

Spurge

Euphorbia spp

Spurges are the most diverse plants in the plant kingdom. They can be in the form of trees like the Devil Bone Cactus or shrube like the Crown-of-Thorns. The sap of the plant is used as medicine for purging, hende the reason for the name.

All spurges produce white or yellow latex which are toxic. This prevents them from being eaten by animals. Besides being used as a laxative, it is also used for treatment of wounds and other skin ailments. The Euphorbia pekinensis - The Chinese Spurge, is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in Chinese medicine.

Indian Spurge

Euphorbia tirucalli

Origin: Africa

Also known as Firestick Plant. Used in the treatment of Cancer.

Buttefly Garden

The world's first butterfly garden in an airport is designed as a tropical butterfly habitat with a profusion of flowering plants, lush greenery and a 6m grotto waterfall. Encounter over 1,000 tropical butterflies from as many as 40 species during the different seasons of the year. Educational corners and individual enclosures let you witness the breeding and feeding of butterflies at close range.