THE NATIONAL FLOWER
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, colourful and attractive". In the end, the Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen as the National Flower for its "resilience and year-round blooming quality".
On 15 April 1981, then Minister for Culture Mr S. Dhanabalan announced the launch of Vanda Miss Joaquim as Singapore’s National Flower.
A cross between Vanda hookeriana and Vanda teres, the orchid is named in memory of Miss Agnes Joaquim, who bred the flower in her garden at Tanjong Pagar in 1893. It was recorded 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.
adapted from National Heritage Board website