Intriguing Facts About Wayside Trees You Probably Didn’t Know

Growing up to 40 metres in height, this native evergreen tree is characterized by its oval-shaped dark green leaves and deeply fissured bark. The cream white flowers of the Tembusu tree (Fagraea fragrans) is said to bloom and emit a sweet fragrance at sunset during the flowering season. The iconic tree is featured on Singapore’s five-dollar note, and that particular Heritage tree still stands at the Botanic Gardens today.

Commonly named “Sorrowless Tree”, this species (Saraca indica) is considered to be sacred by both the Hindus and Buddhists. The Hindus regard the tree as a symbol of love and dedicate it to the deity Lord Rama, while the Buddhists believe that Sakaymuni Buddha was born under this tree. The roadside tree may also be sighted in temple grounds as its orange clusters of flowers are often used in religious offerings and thought to protect children from grief.

The Yellow Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum) is one of the most planted trees in Singapore’s streetscape. The tree boasts a wide-spreading crown, providing ample shade in the sunny urban environment. The flowers are yellow and crinkly like tissue paper, often covering only the top of the tree. During the unprecedented dry spell in 2014, the Yellow Flame was one of the few drought-tolerant roadside trees that survived well in spite of the heat. The aboriculture of this tree species has greatly reduced roadside irrigation costs and conserved valuable water resource locally.