Singapore is a Garden City, rich in greenery and biodiversity. It is thus fitting that the nation is represented by a unique National Flower of its own, the Vanda Miss Joaquim (pronounced Wah-Kim).
In 1981, the then Ministry of Culture formed a national committee to select a representative national flower “as part of an overall effort to foster national pride and identity”. The committee comprised representatives from the Ministry, the then Parks and Recreation Department, Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research and the Orchid Society of South East Asia.
The committee deliberated over 40 types of flowers, which included 30 orchids, to find one that is "popularly known, free flowering, colorful and attractive". In the end, the Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen as the National Flower for its "resilience and year round blooming quality".
Vanda Miss Joaquim was also selected as it was a "natural hybrid and indigenous to Singapore". A cross between Vanda hookeriana and Vanda teres, the orchid is named in memory of Miss Agnes Joaquim, who discovered the flower in her garden at Tanjong Pagar in 1893. It was registered as Singapore’s first orchid hybrid and the world’s first Vanda hybrid, and soon became popular all over the world as a cut flower due to its beauty and hardiness.
On 15 April 1981, then Minister for Culture Mr. S. Dhanabalan announced the launch of Vanda Miss Joaquim as Singapore’s National Flower. The orchid can be seen growing in the National Orchid Garden, the Botanic Gardens, the Mandai Orchid Gardens and the Vanda Miss Joaquim Park at Tanjong Pagar.
During National Day or other national events, images of Vanda Miss Joaquim can be found on banners, buntings and other decorations. Images of Vanda Miss Joaquim can also be found on currency and postal stamp series. The flower is also used in souvenirs, jewellery and has become a source of inspiration for art, songs, fashion and architecture. The most highly coveted of ornamental plants; the delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength.
