Seed Bank

he Singapore Botanic Gardens Seed Bank was established in 2019 for the conventional storage of seeds of plant species from Singapore and the surrounding Southeast Asian region, as a means of long-term conservation of seeds and plant genetic diversity. It has the capacity to hold 75,000 seed collections from around 25,000 plant species, and currently stores seeds of over 300 plant species, of which over 100 are native to Singapore, many of them threatened.

As the majority of tropical native species have seeds that do not tolerate drying and freezing, the preconditions for conventional storage, research is being conducted at the Seed Bank on alternative storage strategies for these plant germplasms. All research and storage facilities are housed in a refurbished two-storey conserved building that was once part of Raffles College, established in 1928, where visitors can learn more about the seed banking process through an interpretive gallery with interactive displays. They can also stroll through the Seed Dispersal Garden just outside the Seed Bank to see representative species with different means of seed dispersal.

The Seed Dispersal Garden surrounding the Seed Bank showcases species with various methods of seed dispersal. Some plants rely on mechanical methods such as ballistic force to propel their seeds over short distances, while others have brightly coloured, attractive flesh or hooks for animal dispersal. Wind-dispersed plants have a variety of adaptations that allow their seeds to be carried by the wind, while water-dispersed species may have thick, lightweight fibrous coats on their fruits or seeds to enhance buoyancy. A living specimen of the largest seed in the world, the Double Coconut palm (Lodoicea maldivica), is on display here.

Overview of the outdoor Dispersal Garden

Seed Bank Interpretive Gallery
Seed banking is a process with many stages. Through interactive and infographic panels, visitors can discover what happens to seeds as they journey from the forest to the Seed Bank. Windows looking into the laboratories, alongside information panels, offer a glimpse of the work that goes on behind the scenes.