Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim
The national orchid of Singapore, known for year-round blooming
Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim is a hybrid orchid and the national flower of Singapore. It blooms throughout the year with rosy-violet and orange-spotted flowers, chosen in 1981 to symbolise the country's resilience and hybrid culture.
- National flower of Singapore since 1981
- First registered plant hybrid from Singapore
- Blooms all year with up to 12 buds per stalk
- Created from Papilionanthe teres and P. hookeriana
- Won 'rarest orchid' prize at 1899 Singapore Flower Show
What does Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim look like?
Each flower is about 5 cm wide and 6 cm tall. The upper petals and top sepal are rosy-violet, while the lower sepals are pale mauve. The broad lip resembles a fan, coloured violet-rose at the base and fiery orange with dark purple spots at the centre. The petals are twisted so their backs face forward.
Where does Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim come from?
This orchid was first shown in Singapore in 1893 by Agnes Joaquim, an Armenian-Singaporean horticulturist. It results from a cross between Papilionanthe teres (from Myanmar) and Papilionanthe hookeriana (from Malaysia). Though once debated, Singapore’s heritage authorities now credit Joaquim with creating it. It became Singapore’s national flower in 1981.
When and how Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim blooms
It is a sun-loving orchid that needs strong light, high humidity, good air flow, and regular feeding. Grown on vertical supports, it begins flowering once its stem reaches 40–50 cm tall. Each flowering stalk can carry up to 12 buds, with about four open at a time.
How Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim is used
Chosen as Singapore’s national flower for its hardiness and constant bloom, it appears on stamps, souvenirs, and official emblems. It is grown in gardens and given as a gift to represent Singaporean identity and pride.
What Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim means
It was the first plant hybrid registered from Singapore. In 1899, it won first prize for the rarest orchid at Singapore’s Flower Show. Its selection as national flower in 1981 reflects Singapore’s multicultural society and spirit of innovation.
Traditions that use it
Where to see Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim
Questions people ask about Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim
Where does Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim come from?
It was created in Singapore in the late 19th century by Agnes Joaquim through a cross between two orchid species from Myanmar and Malaysia.
Why is it Singapore’s national flower?
It was chosen in 1981 for its resilience and ability to bloom year-round, symbolising Singapore’s unique and hybrid culture.
What do the flowers look like?
The flowers are 5 cm across with rosy-violet upper petals, pale mauve lower sepals, and a fan-shaped lip that blends violet-rose into orange with purple spots.
Is it a natural or man-made hybrid?
Singapore’s National Heritage Board confirmed in 2016 that it was intentionally created by Agnes Joaquim, not a natural occurrence.
When does it bloom?
It is a free-flowering orchid that blooms throughout the year, with multiple flowers open at once on each stalk.
Good reading and sources
- Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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