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Gardens by the Bay has transformed the Flower Dome into a lush ancient Egyptian garden for Lilytopia, its first Egypt-themed floral display. Running until September 27, the showcase features more than 7,000 lilies across 46 species and varieties, alongside colourful temple-inspired architecture, towering deities, and plants once woven into everyday Egyptian life.
At the heart of the display is a recreation of a formal ancient Egyptian garden, traditionally designed as a walled, rectangular space with a central pool containing fish and aquatic plants. Lilytopia’s pond takes its cue from the Nile, whose waters supported agriculture, communities and gardens against Egypt’s otherwise arid landscape. Floating within it is the rarely seen Egyptian blue waterlily (Nymphaea caerulea), which closes at night and reopens with the morning sun – a cycle that made it a symbol of creation and rebirth.
And there’s plenty more in bloom. More than 40 varieties of garden lilies bring colour and fragrance to the display, including debut cultivars such as Lilium ‘Tiny Massive’, a compact Asiatic lily with yellow petals and dark centres; Lilium ‘Tropical Dragon’, with narrow, curled lime-green petals streaked and edged in vivid pink; and Lilium ‘White Triumph’, known for its large white blooms and elegant fragrance.
Two giant waterlilies, Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana, are also making their debut in a Flower Dome floral display. Native to South America and among the largest members of the waterlily family, both were grown from seed by Gardens by the Bay’s research team over the past year and a half.
And of course, there are also famous monuments inspired by Egypt. A 4.5m-tall façade inspired by the Great Temple of Abu Simbel anchors the display, recreating its four colossal seated statues of King Ramesses II, who commissioned the rock-cut temple around 1264 BC. Towering figures of Egyptian deities are also scattered throughout the garden, including Hathor, goddess of music, joy and motherhood; Ra, the sun god; and Thoth, associated with the moon, wisdom and writing.
Time Out Tip: If you’re visiting early, there’s a little botanical bonus – from August 21 to 25, don’t forget to take home a complimentary air plant, limited to one per person and while stocks last.
Lilytopia runs at Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, until September 27, 2026, from 9am to 9pm. Admission to Flower Dome applies.
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