Plants
What is the National Flower of Singapore?
Our National Flower – Vanda Miss Joaquim
Singapore is basically a garden city full of biodiversity and natural beauty. Due to this very reason it is represented by a unique flower of its own called the Vanda Miss Joaquim.
The name itself is quite interesting and if you are thinking about its origin then let me explain it to you. The word Vanda is basically a Sanskriti word which is an ancient language of India. In today’s time it is used for one of the class of the family orchid.
These orchids basically hail from Eastern Asia and they can easily be found in Southern China, India and also Philippines.
Now, you may be thinking that when and why this particular flower was selected as national flower of Singapore.
When it was chosen as the National Flower of Singapore?
On 15 April 1981, an effort was made by the Ministry of Culture to choose a flower that would represent and also foster national identity and pride. It was an effort by the Government of that time to install a sense of unity among its population and for that reason it was agreed to start with the recognition of a national flower.
This committee was a diverse committee including members from the Ministry itself, Recreation department, Singapore Tourist Promotion Board and also Parks and Orchid Society of South East Asia.
This committee reflected on almost 40 different types of flowers and 30 among them were orchids. The purpose was to find that one flower or orchid that is well known, free-flowering colorful, fragrant and attractive. After many sessions, in the end the Vana Miss Joaquim was selected as the national flower of Singapore due to its resilience and all year flowering quality.
Today this flower can be seen in the Botanic Garden, National Orchid Garden and Vanda Miss Joaquim Garden in Tanjong Pagar. You may have noticed that during national day or any such national events pictures of Vanda Miss Joaquim are printed on banners and other decorations. Photos of this flower are also commonly found on postal stamp series and currency. It has also become an inspiration in jewelry, souvenirs and also for arts, architecture and fashion.
A little history of Vanda Miss Joaquim
On 7 April 1854, Miss Anges Joaquim was born to Urelia Zechariah and Parsick Joaquim, both were members of powerful Armenian community. She used to live in a large house with an extensive garden. She was not only an expert embroider but also a very successful and skilled horticulturist with almost 70 awards from floral shows.
In 1893 she bred a new variety of Vanda orchid which was confirmed by the director of Botanic Gardens Mr. Henry Ridley as a new hybrid which was never known before. This hybrid flower became as first Vanda hybrid of the world and also first orchid hybrid of Singapore. Due to its beautiful appearance and also hardiness it became popular all over the world.
Miss Anges Joaquim died at the age of 46 so she couldn’t enjoy the widespread popularity of her flower. This year, 2021, marks 128th anniversary of the creation of this Singaporean national flower.
Basic Requirements of Vanda Miss Joaquim
Water
This is a drought-resistant plant so always make sure that before watering soil is completely dry otherwise you will end up over-watering it.
Soil
If you want a healthy Vanda orchid then you need to be very choosy when it comes to soil selection. Make sure that the soil does not hold moisture and there is proper drainage system. Vanda orchids are not a big fan of over-watering and humidity.
Nutrient availability
Giving the right amount of nutrients/fertilizers at the right time is one of the main requirements of your Vanda Miss Joaquim plant. Make sure to give a high nitrogen fertilizer to your Vanda almost every month.
Light
For successful care of Vanda giving right amounts of shade and light is a very important thing to keep in mind. These plants require a lot of light and direct sun exposure but intense mid-day sunlight can damage the leaves. So it is recommended to place it in a location where it will away from the heat from 12-3pm.
Facts to know about Vanda Orchid
- The only country whose national flower is a hybrid is Singapore and no other country has a hybrid flower as its national identity.
- Vanda orchid is not only the national flower of Singapore but it is also the very first registered hybrid flower from this country.
- The Vanda Miss Joaquim Park along with other roads like Vanda Drive and Vanda Crescent has been named after this plant. This was a way to pay more respect to the national flower by the country.
How to grow Vanda Miss Joaquim
- It’s a slow-growing plant and for its best growth it is very important to expose it to full-sunlight with a balance of humidity. It should be watered regularly but make sure that there is a proper system of water drainage.
- Heavy fertilization is always a best option if you want a healthy Vanda Orchid because this specific hybrid plant is always hungry for fertilizer. So make sure to fertilize it as much as you can.
- The stems of Vanda orchid are very slim so in order to provide enough support make sure to tie them with a post.
- The best thing about Vanda orchid is it can flower all year long if all the requirements are met.
