Singapore's Orchid Diplomacy: Floral Tributes to World Leaders and Their Political Shadows

Since 1956, Singapore's National Orchid Garden has utilized its 'VIP orchid programme' to create hybrid flowers as diplomatic gifts for visiting leaders, beginning with the Aranthera Anne Black orchid presented to Lady Anne Black. Following Singapore's independence, the initiative grew in line with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's vision for a 'Garden City' in 1967. Among the distinguished hybrids are Dendrobium Rodrigo Roa Duterte, gifted to the Philippines President in December 2016, and Dendrobium Sheikh Hasina, presented to the Bangladesh Prime Minister in March 2018. Orchids have been named in honor of notable individuals such as Margaret Thatcher, Joe and Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Jane Goodall, and Jackie Chan. The Micropropagation Laboratory, established by Eric Holttum, maintains a steady supply of hybrids, with displays changing according to blooming cycles.