List of Trees Of Singapore

Singapore’s streets, parks and small nature reserves are full of leafy characters that shape daily life in the city-state. From shaded walkways to garden displays, knowing a few common trees makes walks and green spaces more interesting.

There are 40 Trees of Singapore, ranging from Acacia,Ylang‑ylang. The list is organized with columns: Scientific name,Nativity & locations,Typical height (m), which you’ll find below.

How can I use this list to identify a tree I see in Singapore?

Start by checking leaf shape, flower or fruit, and bark, then match those features to the Scientific name in the table; the Nativity & locations column helps narrow likely spots, and Typical height (m) gives scale. If unsure, take a photo of leaves and flowers and compare with the entries or use an ID app for a quick cross-check.

Are most of these trees native to Singapore or introduced?

The Nativity & locations column indicates whether a species is native, naturalized, or introduced; you’ll find that the list mixes all three types, with natives often in reserves and introduced species common along roads and in cultivated gardens.

Trees of Singapore

Images and Descriptions

Rain tree

Large umbrella canopy, bipinnate feathery leaves that fold at night, pink pea‑flower clusters and flat pods. Famous shade tree; provides dense shelter for lawns. See: Botanic Gardens, East Coast Park and many roadside avenues.

Tembusu

Thick, fissured trunk with buttresses, opposite glossy leaves, small fragrant white flowers. Iconic old specimen at Botanic Gardens; very long‑lived timber tree. See: Singapore Botanic Gardens (notable heritage tree).

Angsana

Pinnate leaves, dense rounded crown, yellow‑orange papery winged fruit (samara). Popular shade and timber tree; bright blossoms in canopy. See: Bishan‑AMK Park and many avenues.

Yellow flame

Bipinnate leaves, showy golden flower clusters, flat seed pods. Striking yellow bloomers often used as avenue trees. See: various parks and road verges island‑wide.

Sea almond

Horizontal tiered branches, large obovate leaves that redden before falling, stacked appearance. Edible nut inside fruit; seaside shade tree. See: East Coast Park, Changi shoreline.

Mango

Leathery simple leaves, panicles of fragrant flowers, large fibrous drupes. Many cultivars grown for fruit; huge edible fruits. See: Kranji farms, older estates, Pulau Ubin.

Chinese banyan

Small glossy leaves, aerial roots (can develop into trunks), round figs on branches. Dense shade tree often with buttressing roots. See: Orchard Road, Botanic Gardens.

Banyan

Massive spreading crown, numerous aerial prop roots forming new trunks, large leathery leaves. Monumental, ancient‑looking trees. See: Chinese Garden and older parks.

Rubber fig

Large thick glossy leaves, latex when cut, figs appear on branches. Robust ornamental fig. See: MacRitchie trails and Botanic Gardens.

Cluster fig

Figs borne in dense clusters on trunk/branches, large ovate leaves, smooth grey bark. Important wildlife food tree. See: Sungei Buloh and forest patches.

Cannonball tree

Cauliflorous pink showy flowers on trunk, large spherical woody fruits like cannonballs. Unusual trunk‑blooming habit draws visitors. See: Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Gulmohar (Flame tree)

Fern‑like bipinnate leaves, flamboyant red‑orange flowers, flat seed pods. Spectacular summer bloom; popular ornamental. See: many parks and estate roads.

Casuarina

Needle‑like branchlets (appear as leaves), woody conelets, tolerant of salt spray. Used for coastal stabilization. See: East Coast Park, Changi Beach.

Macaranga (pioneer)

Large rounded leaves with palmate veins, reddish young stems, fast‑growing pioneer. Colonises disturbed ground quickly. See: Bukit Timah, Dairy Farm trails.

Pulai (Devil tree)

Whorled leaves, white fragrant clusters of tubular flowers, milky sap. Tall canopy tree used in traditional medicine. See: MacRitchie, Bukit Timah.

Jackfruit

Simple glossy leaves, very large spiky fruits often borne on trunk and branches. Produces one of the largest tree fruits. See: Pulau Ubin and village gardens.

Breadfruit

Large deeply lobed leaves, round starchy fruits, smooth grey trunk. Staple tropical crop in village settings. See: Pulau Ubin and kampong gardens.

Rose apple

Opposite glossy leaves, clusters of white flowers, fragrant apple‑like fruits (yellow/red). Ornamental and edible. See: MacRitchie and parks.

Malay apple

Glossy leaves, bell‑shaped bright red fruits, white flowers. Attractive fruiting ornamental. See: Botanic Gardens and older estates.

Mangosteen

Opposite glossy leaves, round purple fruit with thick rind and segmented white flesh. Highly prized fruit. See: limited orchards and private plots.

Durian

Large spiky fruit with strong aroma, alternate oblong leaves with paler underside. Iconic “king of fruits.” See: Pulau Ubin and some farm areas.

Rambutan

Pinnate leaves, hairy red/yellow fruit, cluster fruiting habit. Popular tropical fruit. See: Kranji farms and rural plots.

Neem

Pinnate leaves, small white fragrant flowers, winged seeds. Renowned medicinal and insecticidal properties. See: Pasir Ris Park and neighbourhoods.

Mahogany

Pinnate leaves, straight bole, winged seeds in capsular fruit. Valued timber species widely planted for shade. See: Botanic Gardens and older parks.

Paperbark

Papery flaky bark, bottlebrush‑like flower spikes, aromatic leaves. Attractive wetland tree often used in landscaping. See: park ponds and wetland edges.

Sea apple

Glossy dark leaves, smooth bark, large panicles of white flowers producing fleshy fruits. Tolerant of salty spray. See: Changi shoreline and coastal parks.

Mangrove apple

Paddle‑shaped leaves, large brush‑like flowers often with exposed stamens, pneumatophores. Key coastal stabilizer and nectar source. See: Sungei Buloh, Pulau Ubin.

Red mangrove

Prominent stilt/prop roots, leathery leaves, cigar‑shaped propagules. Classic mangrove form stabilizing shorelines. See: Sungei Buloh, Pulau Ubin.

Avicennia (pohon putih)

Grey bark, pencil‑like pneumatophores, small yellow flowers. Salt‑tolerant species at mangrove edges. See: Sungei Buloh and coastal reserves.

Orange mangrove

Knee or peg roots, large glossy leaves, viviparous propagules. Common in sheltered mangrove channels. See: Sungei Buloh.

Blind your eyes tree

Opposite leaves often paler beneath, milky toxic sap causing skin irritation, small inconspicuous flowers. Toxic latex protects it from herbivores. See: Sungei Buloh mangroves.

Stink bean tree

Bipinnate leaves, long pendulous bean pods filled with clustered seeds, fragrant flowers. Seeds used in local cuisine. See: Pasir Ris and rural gardens.

Satinwood (Red bead tree)

Bipinnate leaves, pea‑like cream flowers, bright red glossy seeds used as beads. Ornamental roadside tree. See: parks and campuses.

Acacia

Phyllodes (leaf‑like structures), pale yellow bottlebrush flowers, long seed pods. Fast growing nitrogen‑fixer used in reforestation. See: Dairy Farm and Pulau Ubin.

Java cedar

Pinnate leaves, red fleshy drupes in clusters, smooth grey bark. Common pioneer tree in regenerated forests. See: Bukit Timah and nature reserves.

Coral tree

Trifoliate leaves, bright red coral‑shaped flowers, thorny stems. Attracts nectar‑feeding birds. See: East Coast Park and waterfronts.

Ylang‑ylang

Drooping fragrant star‑shaped yellow‑green flowers, aromatic leaves. Source of ylang‑ylang perfume oil. See: Botanic Gardens and heritage gardens.

Macaranga (large)

Very large orbicular leaves, fast stem growth, pale underside on young shoots. Common pioneer in disturbed forest. See: Bukit Timah, Thomson Nature Park.

Crape myrtle (Queen)

Opposite simple leaves, showy clustered lilac to deep pink crinkled flowers, flaky bark. Spectacular summer blooms; ornamental tree. See: parks and residential streets.

Coastal hibiscus

Heart‑shaped leaves, yellow hibiscus‑like flowers turning orange, sprawling habit. Tolerant of salt and wind; common shoreline tree. See: Changi and Pulau Ubin beaches.

Trees in Other Countries