Every country has a national flower. But few have a story behind theirs quite like Singapore's.
The Vanda Miss Joaquim, a striking hybrid orchid in shades of purple-pink and white, has represented Singapore since 1981. But the story of how it got here, what it's named after, and why it was chosen over every other flower in the country is one most Singaporeans have never fully heard.
Here's the full story.
The Discovery
In 1893, a woman named Agnes Joaquim discovered an unusual orchid growing in her garden in Singapore. Unlike any orchid seen before, it appeared to be a natural hybrid, the result of two orchid species crossing naturally, or perhaps cultivated by Agnes herself. The exact origin remains debated to this day.
Agnes brought the flower to Henry Ridley, then Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, who confirmed it as a new variety. He named it in her honour: Vanda Miss Joaquim.
Agnes Joaquim was of Armenian descent, part of a small but significant community that contributed deeply to Singapore's early development. Her name lives on in a flower that now represents an entire nation.
Why It Was Chosen
When Singapore sought a national flower in 1981, the shortlist was long. The country was young, its identity still forming, and the choice carried weight.
The Vanda Miss Joaquim won for three reasons that felt distinctly Singaporean:
Resilience. Unlike most orchids, the Vanda Miss Joaquim blooms year-round without a resting season. It doesn't wait for perfect conditions, it simply keeps flowering. For a young nation built on determination and hard work, this felt right.
Uniqueness. It grows naturally in Singapore and is found nowhere else in the world as a native species. It is, in every sense, ours.
Multiculturalism. Named after a woman of Armenian descent, discovered in colonial Singapore, thriving in tropical heat, the Vanda Miss Joaquim represented exactly what Singapore was becoming: a place where different roots could flourish together.
What It Looks Like
The Vanda Miss Joaquim is immediately recognisable once you know what to look for. Its petals range from soft lilac to vivid purple-pink, with a deeper centre and white edges. It grows on tall, upright stems and blooms in small clusters, elegant without being showy, striking without demanding attention.
It carries a quiet confidence. Which, if you think about it, feels very Singaporean indeed.
The Orchid Today
The Vanda Miss Joaquim is featured on Singapore's one-dollar coin, on official state gifts, and in ceremonies and commemorations throughout the year. It's one of the most recognised symbols of Singapore's identity, alongside the Merlion and the Lion Head. 
Orchids more broadly have become deeply associated with Singapore's story. The Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses the National Orchid Garden, one of the largest orchid collections in the world. Foreign dignitaries visiting Singapore are regularly honoured with orchid varieties named after them.
Orchids aren't just flowers here. They're part of how Singapore presents itself to the world.
Bringing It Home
This National Day, the most meaningful floral choice you can make isn't the most elaborate arrangement. It's an orchid.
A simple orchid arrangement at home is a quiet acknowledgment of Singapore's story, its resilience, its uniqueness, its beauty that comes from unlikely origins and keeps blooming regardless of the season.
Agnes Joaquim found something extraordinary growing in her garden. Singapore turned it into a symbol.
That's worth celebrating.
Discover our orchid arrangements, a meaningful way to honour Singapore's national flower this August 9th.