Changi Airport has a plant older than dinosaurs & other fascinating plant facts you need to know

Facts about the unique plants found at Changi Airport

Changi Airport’s stunning architecture and world-class services are celebrated globally.

However, its abundance of lush greenery, seamlessly integrated into its design, often goes unnoticed.

The airport is, in fact, home to a captivating array of rare plants from around the world.

Here are some fascinating facts about Changi Airport’s unique flora that you might not know.

1. A plant with leaves that grow up to 1m thrives in Changi Airport

While the Philodentron patriciae is native to Colombia’s rainforests, it also thrives in Singapore’s warm, humid climate inside Changi Airport.

This giant climbing plant is known for its deeply textured, rippled green leaves that can grow up to 1m in length.

When in bloom, it produces a tubular flower that’s light green on the outside and a beautiful blend of cream and pink on the inside.

If you go on the hunt for great food finds at Terminal 2’s Gourmet Garden, you’ll find this beauty perched on a mossy rock display.

2. Changi Airport’s horticulturists grew 100 plants from a single cutting

Hidden among the lush greenery of Terminal 2’s Dreamscape is the Pseuderanthemum ‘Splash’, a plant species exclusive to Changi Airport.

The airport’s skilled horticulture team managed to propagate hundreds of these vibrant plants from a single cutting gifted by renowned French botanist Dr Patrick Blanc.

The plant boasts beautiful, bright pink flowers with white spots on its petals, but it only blooms when the conditions are just right.

The last time this happened was more than a year ago, Changi’s Airport Operation Services General Manager Khaja Nazimuddeen told MS News.

3. Changi Airport has a plant that belongs to one of the world’s oldest living species

Sitting unassumingly at the Airport Boulevard is a Macrozamia moorei plant, part of the oldest living plant species on Earth.

Native to a small area in Queensland, Australia, it traces its origin back to the Mesozoic era over 170 million years ago.

Its astonishing resilience can be attributed to its tolerance to drought and infertile soil.

While terminal horticulture teams oversee the airport’s indoor plants, a dedicated team carefully manages the outdoor landscaping along Airport Boulevard.

“We are constantly researching and experimenting to come up with new and innovative ways to better care for our plants,” Mr Nazimuddeen explained.

4. The Macrozamia moorei is a rare find in Southeast Asia

Adding to its prehistoric pedigree, the Macrozamia moorei is also incredibly rare outside of its native Australia due to export restrictions.

Nonetheless, it’s hard to miss it. The tallest-growing species of Macrozamia, it’s characterised by its massive trunk and a fountain-shaped crown that can produce up to 120 lush fronds.

You can find it at the end of a stretch of silver-leafed palms as you drive down Airport Boulevard approaching the control tower.

5. Changi Airport is home to a tree that originated its name

While Changi Airport takes its name from its location, the area itself takes its name from the Changi tree that is found there.

First appearing on maps of Singapore in 1888, the Changi tree stood out as a landmark thanks to its towering height of 76m.

Despite its long history in the area, the exact species of the tree has yet to be determined.

Experts believe it is likely the Sindora wallichii, also known as the Sepetir — a critically endangered legume species native to Southeast Asia cities such as Singapore, Malaysia, Sumatra in Indonesia, and Kalimantan in Borneo.

While it is now critically endangered, a few specimens of this historic tree still thrive within Changi Airport’s grounds, including one located near the Hub & Spoke cafe, accessible from Terminal 2.

When asked how it feels to take care of such rare plants, Mr Nazimuddeen said that bringing a piece of nature into the space to provide passengers with unique experiences gives meaning to their work.

“We are also heartened to be able to play a part in the captive conservation of rare plant species,” he added.

Also read: Ready for take off? 7 things you don’t see before boarding a plane at Changi

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Featured image by Changi Airport Group.