Celebrating Singapore Botanic Gardens

Abstract

It is a privilege to present this special issue of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, the world's longest running botanical periodical. Within these pages we share a carefully curated selection of tropical plants that hold particular significance to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, including several plants from important tropical families – such as the Dipterocarpaceae – that have not been featured in the Magazine's distinguished history.

The articles in this issue represent a collaboration that brings together different aspects of our Gardens' expertise. In a departure from their usual work, our research and living collections staff have co-authored detailed accounts of both notable species and specific historic specimens within our grounds, while members of the Botanical Art Society Singapore have created exquisite botanical illustrations to accompany these articles. Together, they have produced a collection that weaves together scientific knowledge, artistic precision, and the living heritage of the Gardens itself.

The timing of this special issue coincides with a momentous year for the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In 2025, we celebrate several significant anniversaries: a decade since our inscription as Singapore's first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site—notably, still the only tropical botanic garden to appear on the World Heritage List; the 150th anniversaries of both the Singapore Herbarium and the Singapore Botanic Gardens Library of Botany and Horticulture; and 30 years of the National Orchid Garden, arguably our best-known attraction.

Since its foundation in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has evolved while maintaining its core mission of connecting plants with people. Today, our 82-hectare Gardens stands as a sanctuary for heritage trees and primary rainforest, and as the region's most significant living collection of palms, orchids, cycads, and gingers. I hope this Singapore Botanic Gardens special part of Curtis's Botanical Magazine will inspire a deeper appreciation for the power of plants and the enduring value of botanical heritage.