While driving along the Cheras-Kajang Highway recently I noticed a sign for Pusat Flora Cheras (Cheras Flora Centre) and decided to take a look.
This place is run by the Department of Agriculture and it was opened in 1924 as an agricultural research centre.
In those days this area was probably surrounded by forest and rubber estates but today it is in danger of being engulfed by the urban sprawl of greater Kuala Lumpur.
In 1984 the named was changed to its current one and a number of nurseries and garden centres opened up shop here.
It seems the place has seen better days and many of the shop lots look abandoned or vacant. Mr. Rudin Hasan, owner of Shrubs & Creepers, confirmed that the centre used to be busy but now its future looks uncertain.
With few customers around, now is a good time to pick up some bargain plants. Being located in a former agricultural research station, Mr. Hasan’s nursery sells some unusual and rare species such as the Powderpuff Plant (calliandra tergemina var. emarginata) and peach-coloured Allamanda ‘Jamaican Sunset’.
Pay a visit and see what you can find.
The address is Bt.11 Jalan Cheras, 43000 Kajang, Selangor. Mr. Hasan’s phone number is 013 373 8182 if you want to find out what he has in stock.