RBGE scientists have made detailed studies of the Bhutanese flora. After 25 years of work, the ninth and final volume of The Flora of Bhutan was published in January 2002.
Benmore's climate is ideal for the cultivation of many wild-origin plants collected for this research; the Bhutanese Glade, situated on the south facing cliff of Benmore Hill and started in 1987, complements that work. The glade climbs 50m through five vegetation zones and includes plantings of rhododendron, Betula utilis, Sorbus thibetica, Abies densa and a summit vegetation of Juniperus pseudo-sabina and J. recurva scrub.
The second phase of planting the Bhutanese Glade took place in 2001, providing a second generation of trees and shrubs as well as herbaceous perennials on the woodland floor.