Mandai Orchid Garden was started in 1951 by the late John Laycock, a founder of the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA), and continued under him until his death in 1960. He purchased five acres of land on which to grow his ever-increasing collection of orchids. He leased a further five acres of land for commercial cut flower growing, this land and more forms the Mandai Orchid Garden today.

Since 1961, Mandai Orchid Garden has been recognised by the Singapore Tourism Board as a tourist attraction. The Garden is internationally known and attracts up to 200,000 visitors yearly. One of the main highlights of the garden is our showcasing of how orchids were cultivated in the olden days; that is grown on open beds on the ground. A number of plants from John Laycock's original collection are still maintained, though many were lost during World War II.

A wide variety of orchids are displayed in massed beds out in the open. The sloping hillside on which the beds are laid out is a stunning view to behold when the plants are in full bloom.

Singapore Orchids has come under new management since 2002. Under the new management, Mandai Orchid Garden has been transformed into an intergrated garden with lots of new facilities. Some of these include wining and dining at Vanilla Pod (our Continental Restaurant and Bar), our improved shopping outlet and various garden function facilities.

The attraction of the garden has grown eclectically to include the famous Water Garden, organic herb and spice enclosure, a fruit orchard, and a hydroculture plant tour and propagation garden. Take a stroll and find pockets of inspiration to while an afternoon away.