By The Eye desk · Last verified 12 October 2026
Singapore’s national flower is the Vanda Miss Joaquim, a purple hybrid orchid bred by Agnes Joaquim, an Armenian horticulturist living in Singapore, and reported by the Botanic Gardens in 1893. It was declared the national flower on 15 April 1981, chosen from 40 candidates, for its colour, hardiness and resilience. Singapore has also named more than 280 orchid hybrids after visiting leaders and guests since 1956, a practice known as orchid diplomacy; many grow in the VIP Orchid Garden inside the National Orchid Garden, where adult entry is $5 for residents and $15 for non-residents as of October 2026. Buying a plant to grow at home is easy; taking one overseas needs paperwork.
Orchids are the flower Singapore names after presidents and royals, but they are also the cheerful pot on a neighbour’s corridor. Here is the story, the garden and the practical bit.
Quick facts
- National flower: Vanda Miss Joaquim, the ‘Agnes’ variety, named on 15 April 1981.
- Parents: Vanda hookeriana and V. teres, both now reclassified under the genus Papilionanthe.
- Orchid diplomacy began in 1956; the first was Aranthera Anne Black, named after the wife of the then British Governor.
- More than 280 hybrids have been named for foreign leaders and distinguished guests (MFA, 2024).
- National Orchid Garden: 8.30am to 7pm, last entry 6pm; the wider Botanic Gardens are free.
- Orchids are CITES-listed, so exporting plants needs the right NParks documents.
Why is Vanda Miss Joaquim the national flower?
NParks records that Agnes Joaquim succeeded in crossing two vandas, and that H. N. Ridley, the Botanic Gardens’ first scientific director, reported the cross in 1893 as having happened “a few years ago”. In 1981 the ‘Agnes’ variety was picked from 40 candidates, 30 of them orchids, because its bright colour, hardiness and resilience were seen as reflecting the Singapore spirit. A home-grown hybrid that thrives in heat and rain was a fitting choice for a young, hard-working nation.
What are the VIP orchids?
Since 1956, Singapore has honoured visiting heads of state, royals and other guests by naming a new hybrid after them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NParks marked the practice in 2024 with a book, Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy. Many of the plants are displayed in the VIP Orchid Garden, just behind Burkill Hall in the National Orchid Garden.
| Orchid | Named after | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aranthera Anne Black | Wife of the then British Governor of Singapore | The first, in 1956 |
| Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher | The then UK Prime Minister | She visited the Botanic Gardens in 1985 |
| Papilionanda William Catherine | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge | Named in 2012 |
| Dendrobium Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak | The UAE’s Mother of the Nation | Named on 22 March 2017 |
NParks also lists orchids named after Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi and Ban Ki-moon among those in the garden.
Visiting the National Orchid Garden
| Ticket | Residents | Non-residents |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $5 | $15 |
| Student (local student pass) | $1 | $3 |
| Senior (60 and above) | $1 | $3 |
| Child under 12 | Free | Free |
Worked example: two visiting adults and a nine-year-old pay $15 + $15 + $0 = $30. A resident couple with the same child pays $10. Prices are from the Botanic Gardens visitor page as of October 2026; check it before you go, as promotions run in school holidays. Arrive in the morning for softer heat and better light for photographs.
Buying and growing an orchid at home
Nurseries, supermarket florists and weekend plant sales all sell orchids in flower. Dr John Elliott of the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia, speaking to Home & Decor, recommends beginners choose man-made hybrids, which are showier and easier than wild species, and match the plant to the light you have.
- Check your light. Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) like light shade, which suits a bright window. Dendrobiums, vandas and cattleyas want more sun; arandas, renantheras and papilionandas want a lot.
- Look at the plant. Choose firm, green leaves and plump roots, with some buds still closed so the flowering lasts.
- Water to the medium. Charcoal drains fast and may need daily watering; sphagnum moss only when nearly dry, about once or twice a week.
- Skip the saucer. Standing water causes root rot and can breed mosquitoes.
- Feed “weakly, weekly”. Many growers use a quarter-strength fertiliser regularly.
Taking an orchid out of Singapore
Orchids are listed under CITES. NParks says artificially propagated plants of Appendix II or III species can travel on a phytosanitary certificate, applied for via GoBusiness, while wild plants and Appendix I species need a CITES export permit. Your destination country will have its own import rules, so check those first. For cut flowers, flasks or anything unclear, NParks asks exporters to check the schedule to the Endangered Species Act or email its CITES team.
The WahLiao Verdict
Go and see the VIP orchids once: it is a cheerful hour of living history, and only $5 for a resident adult. For a home plant, start with a hybrid that matches your light, buy it with buds still to open, and let it drain properly. If you want to give an orchid to someone abroad, a keepsake or a photograph travels far more easily than a living plant; for anything alive, sort the paperwork before you pack.
Questions people ask
Is Vanda Miss Joaquim a wild orchid?
No. It is a hybrid of two vandas, crossed in Singapore in the late 19th century and credited to Agnes Joaquim.
Can I see the VIP orchids for free?
The Botanic Gardens are free, but the VIP Orchid Garden sits inside the paid National Orchid Garden. Children under 12 enter free.
Which orchid is easiest for a flat?
One that suits your light. Phalaenopsis prefers light shade, so it often suits a bright, sheltered window; sun-lovers such as vandas want a sunny ledge or balcony.
Do I need a permit to fly home with an orchid?
Usually some document is needed: a phytosanitary certificate for artificially propagated Appendix II or III plants, or a CITES permit otherwise. Check the NParks CITES page and your home country’s rules first.
Sources: NParks, Vanda Miss Joaquim and its history; NParks, the VIP Orchid Garden and named hybrids; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, orchid diplomacy book launch, 2024; Singapore Botanic Gardens, opening hours and National Orchid Garden fees; NParks, CITES import and export conditions for plants; Home & Decor, orchid care tips. The Eye explains; it does not endorse.
Read next: Singapore Botanic Gardens: What’s Free, the Orchid Garden Fee and Opening Hours · Visiting a Singapore Home at Festivals: Gifts and Etiquette · Back to The Eye
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