One hundred and forty-one medicinal plants have been identified in Rila National Park, accounting for 68% of all species used for either traditional or pharmaceutical remedies in Bulgaria. Of those, 20 are listed in the Bulgarian Red Data Book: 5 as endangered and 15 as rare.

The Nature Protection Act protects eight species, or 18% of all medicinal plant species under special protection in Bulgaria. The populations of many of these—e.g., the Rila rhubarb, yellow gentian, sundew, water clover, or roseroot—have shrunk dramatically both in size and area. The primary cause of this decline is human impact. Particularly valuable species, such as the yellow gentian, are illegally harvested for export. Other species are gathered using highly invasive extraction methods, leading to depletion of their stocks.

The Parks ensure the best possible regimes for protecting valuable medicinal plants. Local residents, Park visitors, and other interested parties that collect medicinal plants can obtain information, advice, or a day permit from Park personnel.

A total of 19 medicinal plant species are placed under special restrictions; some (lady’s mantle, common columbine, bearberry, pasque flower, etc.) are very rare and are found only as lone specimens in the Park.

Several of the Rila National Park species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)—e.g., snowdrop and several species of the genus Orchis sp. div. (Orchis coriophora, O. laxiflora, O. mascula, O. morio, O. pallens, O. simia, and O. tridentata). These species, along with bearberry, yellow gentian and water clover, are included in the list of endangered medicinal plant species under EU Resolution #338/97 (Medicinal species listing in the Annex of Regulation No. 338/97).