Centre for Ethnobotany
Explore how plants have shaped culture, tradition, and everyday life across the region through artefacts, plant materials, and interactive displays.
Last updated on 16 June 2026
About the Centre for Ethnobotany
Opened in 2018, the Centre for Ethnobotany explores how people and plants are closely connected through culture, tradition, and everyday life. The exhibition spaces across two levels feature artefacts, plant materials, and interactive displays that highlight the many ways plants support communities and shape the region’s heritage.
Past exhibitions have included:
The Ethnobotany of the Jackfruit Tree Family [Pg 34-35] (opens in new tab)
Plants That Heal [Pg 22-23] (opens in new tab)
Diversity & Ethnobotany of the Anacardiaceae (Mango Family) [Pg 17-21] (opens in new tab)
The King of Fruits: Ethnobotany & Diversity of the Durians [Pg 23-26] (opens in new tab)
Uncommon Market Vegetables [Pg 10-14] (opens in new tab)
Rainforest Remedies [Pg 8-13] (opens in new tab)
Ethnobotany & Diversity of Figs [Pg 12-17] (opens in new tab)
About the Building
The Centre is housed in a two-storey building inspired by black-and-white colonial and Art Deco architecture. It previously served as the home of the Gardens’ Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) before being repurposed for the Centre for Ethnobotany.
Getting There
Opening Hours
Daily 9:00am – 6:00pm (except every last Wednesday of the month)
Nearest Entrance
Bukit Timah Gate