Intriguing Facts About Wayside Trees You Probably Didn’t Know

With its unmistakably deep pink and trumpet-shaped inflorescences, the Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia rosea) has been commonly planted in parks and along roadsides in housing estates. Growing up to 30 metres tall, the tree has two flowering seasons, typically occurring first in March and April, and later in the year between August and September. Native to tropical rainforests across South America, the bark of the tree is found have anti-cancer properties while the timber can be used for building and furniture. Due to its prevalence in Singapore, the species has become an iconic tree to photograph in the city’s urban streetscape.

The Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) is a common roadside tree in Singapore and can be located at housing estates such as Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok West, and Choa Chu Kang. Besides providing colour to our roadside when in bloom, the tree also attracts avian fauna including the Yellow-vented Bulbul and Black-naped Oriole. The tree was introduced to Singapore in 1982 from Cairns, Australia where it is the floral emblem and more widespread in the Queensland rainforest.

Also known as the Singapore Graveyard Flower (Plumeria obtusa), the Fragipani is no stranger to the local streetscape. The alternate name of the tree is attributed to the fragrant white flowers it produces, of which the scent is often associated with ghosts that are believed to live in the trees. The Frangipani trees are often planted in cemeteries or temple grounds, and are also associated with the afterlife in Malay custom.