Your Guide to the

Heritage Trees of Fort Canning Park

This trail guide introduces you to 17 Heritage Trees that can be found in Fort Canning Park.
Tips for a safe and enjoyable trip:
Mature trees are part of our natural heritage and serve as important green landmarks of our City
• Dress comfortably and wear suitable footwear.
in Nature. The Heritage Tree Scheme started in 2001, advocating the conservation of Singapore’s • Wear a hat, put on sunglasses and apply sunscreen
mature trees. There are over 250 Heritage Trees significant for their size, botanical, social, to shield yourself from the sun.
historical, cultural and/or aesthetical value, setting them apart from other trees in Singapore. • Spray on insect repellent if you are prone to
These trees take decades to mature gracefully and beautify our landscape, helping us to identify insect bites.
with and stay rooted to the place we call home. • Drink ample fluids to stay hydrated.
• Walk along the designated paths to protect the
natural environment.
Trees play an important role in our City in Nature, offering many environmental benefits such as • Dispose of rubbish at the nearest bin.
respite from the tropical heat and sun, minimising soil erosion and reducing stormwater run-off. • Activities such as poaching, releasing and feeding
They also offer ecological benefits by providing shelter and a source of food for wildlife like birds, of animals, damaging and removing of plants, and
bees and butterflies. Being around trees and natural surroundings also improves our emotional those that cause pollution are strictly prohibited.

and mental well-being, helping us feel more connected to nature and the city we live in.
 SMU

17
Stam
Legend
ford
National Museum Rd
of Singapore

16
SMU

Toilet Drop-off Point

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Cann ing Ris Link
Fort Canning
Farquhar

15
Garden

Fort Canning Tree Tunnel lk SMU

Wa Car Park A
Connecting Penang Road
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Food & Fitness Station
va
14
to Canning Rise
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ASEAN Substation Beverage
12
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Sculpture
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13
l St

Car Park Garden

Peranakan Entrance
iva

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Museum
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Fort Canning
Green
Battlebox
MRT Station
Visitor Centre Spice
Garden
Bible
ing Road

Co
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Artisan’s Registry of House
Automated
11
er Can
Car Park ra Ce Can Garden Marriages
D obbie Rise

ce n ing
C nt nin Rise
External
Fort Cann

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Shelter
Hotel Fort
Canning Defibrillator
Car Park

National Archives Singapore

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of Singapore Central Fire

1
Philatelic Masonic
Flyo

Station
Old Married Museum Hall Carpark Stairs
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Soldiers’ Quarters
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Lewin Terrace
Bus Stop Overhead
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Bridge
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6
7 Vending
Machine
8 Heritage Trees

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9

Hill Stre
Raffles
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Escalator
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Police Station
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Jubilee Park
The Foothills

Road
Fort Canning Station River Valley

Learn more about our

Heritage Trees at
go.gov.sg/heritagetrees
 1 2 3 7 11

Earpod Tree Kapok Madras Thorn Terap Rain Tree

Earpod Tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) Madras Thorn (Pithecellobium dulce) Terap (Artocarpus elasticus) Rain Tree (Samanea saman)
HT 2001-11 HT 2001-04 | HT 2001-05 | HT 2001-06 | HT 2001-07 HT 2016-279 | HT 2001-12 | HT 2015-235 | HT 2014-223 HT 2001-08 | HT 2014-228
1 Between Fort Wall and Hotel Fort Canning 3 4 5 6  Path beside Service Reservoir 7 Near Five Kings Walk 10 Near Bond Terrace
Native to tropical America, the Earpod Tree At heights of up to 15 m, the Madras Thorn is 8 Path beside Service Reservoir 11 Near Registry of Marriages
is one of the largest tree species found in dry a medium-sized tree. Its branches are fairly
9 Raffles Garden The Rain Tree gets its name from how its leaflets
forest habitats. It reaches up to 40 m in height low down on the trunk; they start off thick
close during the day when the sky is overcast. It
and 3 m in trunk diameter, and has a huge, and become thinner and more numerous 16 Fort Green, near Canning Rise lamp-post 11F is also referred to as Pukul Lima, meaning
spreading crown. In fact, older trees produce towards the ends. This gives the crown its
When young, the leaves of the Terap are deeply ‘5 o’clock’, by the Malays because its leaflets
roots so large that they can crack or raise characteristically dense yet wispy appearance.
lobed. However, as it matures, its leaves become also fold up in the evenings.
nearby sidewalks, roads or foundations. When ripe, the coiled pods of the Madras more entire (non-lobed) and its trunk more Reaching up to 30 m in height, the Rain Tree
The seeds of the Earpod Tree are contained in Thorn split open, exposing thick, white pulp heavily buttressed. Its fruit are almost 18 cm long. has an umbrella-shaped crown, spreading
distinctively thickened and indehiscent (closed surrounding shiny black seeds that dangle When ripe, they darken from cream yellow to almost 20 to 30 m across. It has dark brown
at maturity) pods. Each pod is shaped like an ear, out on short, rose-red ‘strings’. Birds feed on brown and emit a nauseous rancid smell. bark that becomes rough and flaky in mature
giving rise to this tree’s common name. the pulp contained in these pods, helping to
The Terap is native to specimens. Epiphytes like ferns and orchids
disperse the seeds.
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) Singapore. It can also be tend to perch on old Rain Trees.
HT 2015-236 Native to tropical America, the Madras Thorn found in Myanmar, Thailand, This species is native to tropical America, and
was introduced to this region by the Portuguese Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia,
2 Path beside Service Reservoir was introduced to Singapore in 1876. By the
and Spanish. In the past, it was commonly Borneo, Java, the Philippines
Reaching up to 70 m in height, the Kapok is a mid-1900s, due to its excellent shade it had
planted along Singapore’s roadsides. However, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
fast-growing tree that boasts a massive, often been planted extensively
after this species suffered major caterpillar This tree’s latex, known as
thorny, trunk and heavy buttresses. Its crown in coffee and nutmeg
attacks in 1970, it was phased out from gutta terap, is used as gum
is made up of branches that are arranged in a plantations as well as
roadsides and housing estates. (bird lime) to trap birds. Fruit
tiered fashion, resembling a pagoda. along roadsides. Cattle,
The Madras Thorn is relatively resistant to fire, and goats, horses, pigs and
Deciduous in nature, the resprouts rapidly through basal or aerial shoots. even children relish the
Kapok sheds its leaves before
taste of its sweet fruit pulp.
flowering and fruiting in Flowers
response to drought.
The buoyant and
water-resistant fibre is
sometimes used to stuff Trunk
pillows and mattresses.
 13

Tamalan Tree Merbatu Horse Mango Indian Rubber Tree

Tamalan Tree (Dalbergia oliveri) Merbatu (Maranthes corymbosa) Horse Mango (Mangifera foetida) Indian Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)
HT 2014-224 HT 2001-30 | HT 2001-31 HT 2014-227 HT 2010-181
12 Fort Green 13 Canning Rise, near Spice Gallery 14 Canning Rise, opposite lamp-post 7 17 National Museum of Singapore grounds
The Tamalan Tree looks extremely graceful 15 Canning Rise, Singapore Management University Native to Singapore, the Horse Mango is a The Indian Rubber tree is a fast-growing species
with its spreading crown of delicate, feathery- Law School large tree that reaches up to 40 m in height. found in moist tropical forests. Reaching
looking foliage. Native to Myanmar, Thailand Even amid changing landscapes, these two Its dome-shaped crown is dense with stiff and up to 30 m in height, it develops numerous
and Vietnam, it was introduced to Singapore as Merbatu trees stand firmly on the lower slopes leathery leaves. Near its branch tips, reddish- descending aerial roots. This fig tree can easily
an ornamental wayside tree. Although widely of Fort Canning Hill. They are sometimes seen pink flowers bloom in upright panicles. be distinguished from other fig trees by its young
planted on Fort Canning Hill during the early in old images of the former National Library The light brown bark of the Horse Mango leaves which are enclosed in a red sheath.
1900s, few are found along the roadside now. Building (built in 1960, where the nearby SMU produces irritant white sap. Its yellowish-green Known for its latex, the Indian Rubber was once
Certain species of Dalbergia, such as the Law School currently stands). fruit is spotted in an economically important plant in this region.
Brazilian Rosewood (D. nigra), Indian Rosewood The Merbatu is native to Singapore. Reaching brown. The Horse Its latex was tapped and processed into a type
(D. latifolia) and African Blackwood (D. up to more than 30 m in height, this large Mango’s fruit is of rubber known as gutta rambong. However,
melanoxylon), are timber trees of great value. evergreen tree has a dense, fibrous and juicy, the cultivation of Indian Rubber for its latex was
This particular Tamalan Tree is located heavy and dark green crown. but not palatable slowly phased out after the Pará Rubber (Hevea
within Fort Green, which It has pale grey bark that is because it smells brasiliensis) was introduced to this region. Pará
is the site of the Old flaky in younger trees, and strongly of Rubber produces higher quality latex and at a
Christian Cemetery. smoother in older trees. Its turpentine. faster rate, making it the preferred choice.
It has been growing oblong, slightly hairy fruit The Horse Mango This particular Indian Rubber tree has stood
here since before contains two seeds. is considered Flowers here since at least 1949. It can be identified in
1974, as it can be seen locally vulnerable old photographs dating back to that year.
as a mature tree in Fruits in the wild.
photographs taken
that year. Flowers We hope you enjoyed this trail!
Find more Heritage Tree guides at
go.gov.sg/heritagetrees