Showers bring early pop of colour to Singapore cityscape through buds, blossoms

SINGAPORE – Clusters of pink, red and yellow gave Singapore’s streets zest earlier than usual in 2026.

Bountiful rainfall in February

brought relief to the drier weather late in January, and precipitated a bloom among some of the more than 4,800 species of native and cultivated plants on the tropical island.

This was ahead of the two flowering periods flowering trees here usually experience – between March and April, and between August and September – said National Parks Board group director for streetscape Oh Cheow Sheng.

“Flowering is usually triggered when heavy showers occur after a hot and long dry spell, such as in the recent few weeks,” Mr Oh said.

Decorating the streets with crowns of pink and white were trumpet trees (Tabebuia rosea), affectionately dubbed Singapore’s cherry blossoms for their resemblance to sakura trees in Japan.

Named for its trumpet-shaped flowers, this non-native species can grow to about between 18m and 35m. Its flowers, which stay in bloom for several days before wilting, carpet the ground around the tree after falling off.

In some corners, a more striking red drew attention.

When in bloom, the free-flowering red powderpuff plant (Calliandra tergemina var. emarginata) provides nectar for bees and butterflies, before wilting after two or three days. Its unopened flowers buds resemble bunches of red berries.

Blossoming several times a year across the Republic is the yellow saraca (Saraca thaipingensis).

The tree, measuring up to 24m, is prized and cultivated for its large clusters of vibrant yellow flowers, which later turn orange and red.

The blooms often coincide with transitional periods between the wet and dry season, and individual flowers last about one or two weeks.

Also adding a sprightly splash of yellow is the cat claw ivy (Dolichandra unguis-cati).

The name “cat claw” is derived from the vine’s distinctive climbing appendages, resembling a cat’s claws.

Native to Central and South America, the plant was introduced to Singapore as an ornamental species.

The sandpaper vine (Petrea volubilis), named for its rough-textured leaves, was seen sporting its signature pale blue and violet star-shaped flowers.

The woody climber can grow up to 6m with support, or forms a shrub when not supported.

Native epiphytic orchids such as Rhynchostylis gigantea and pigeon orchids (Dendrobium crumenatum) have also been spotted blooming on rain trees, said NParks’ Mr Oh. Epiphytic plants use a host plant’s surface for physical support, and do not negatively affect it.

There are also plants that flower all year round, such as the bougainvillea and Malayan crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia floribunda), and others that exhibit flushes of young reddish leaves, such as the kelat oil (Syzygium myrtifolium).

“In general, plants have evolved to respond physiologically to changes in the environment,” said Mr Oh, adding that “flowering patterns will change in line with increased climate variability”.

Other environmental factors include temperature, light and moisture levels, he said.

The public can visit

trees.sg

to find out where flowering trees can be seen.