Start at Botanic Gardens MRT Exit A and use the NParks map to find the Trellis Garden from Bukit Timah Gate. NParks describes the collection as a place to see how climbing plants use tendrils, hooks or twining stems to reach up a support.
For a short family walk, choose two plants and compare how each holds on. Start with the part touching the support rather than the flowers. You can add Eco-Lake nearby if the group still wants to walk.
- Start · Botanic Gardens MRT (CC19/DT9), Exit A.
- Find it · Use the current Gardens map for the Trellis Garden.
- Look for · Tendrils, hooks or a main stem winding around a support.
- Keep it short · Compare two plants and return to Bukit Timah Gate.
Find the Trellis Garden from the north entrance
Take Exit A towards Bukit Timah Gate, then check the map for the Trellis Garden and Eco-Lake. Send the gate name to anyone meeting you. The Gardens has several entrances, and a pin for the whole site can take someone much farther away.
Choose the direction back before you start. If a path is closed or unsuitable for someone in the group, follow the signs and use a nearby open public route rather than taking a shortcut through planting.
Look for the part doing the climbing
A tendril is a slender structure that can curl around a support. A twining plant winds its stem around the support. Other climbers can catch onto nearby structures with hooks. From the path, look for the contact point and follow the structure back to the plant before naming what you see.
Ask for one piece of evidence
Instead of asking a child to identify the species immediately, ask where the plant grips and which part bends or curls. A close look may show that the thin gripping part and the main stem are separate. If you cannot see clearly, use a different plant or check its label.
Compare two plants without disturbing them
Choose one example that seems to wind around the support and one that appears to grip it differently. Sketch the trellis first and add only the part of the plant that touches it. If both look the same at first, compare where each contact point starts. Keep plants in place and work from the path.
With younger children, look for simple shapes such as loops or coils. Older children can write a one-sentence observation and say what they would need to see to be sure. Leave an unanswered question if the structure is hidden behind leaves.
Add Eco-Lake only if the group has time
An Eco-Lake stop makes it easy to extend the outing without committing to a long walk. If the group is short on time, return through Bukit Timah Gate and compare your sketches on the way home. If you are meeting someone for breakfast or lunch, choose a clear turn-back time first.
Use NParks’ current visitor information and notices for temporary access changes. Individual attractions can keep different hours, so check separately before combining the Trellis Garden with an indoor exhibition.
Contents · Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Which MRT exit serves this walk?
Use Botanic Gardens MRT Exit A for Bukit Timah Gate.
What can I see at the Trellis Garden?
NParks showcases climbers that use tendrils, hooks or twining stems.
Do I need to know the plant names first?
Start by observing how the plant holds onto its support. Use labels where available.
Can I pair it with Eco-Lake?
Yes. Use the official map to plan both stops and your return.