Sikkim has about 4,500 species of flowering plants thriving at lower altitudes to the alpine region. The predominant flowers are the Orchids and the Rhododendron. These apart here grows Primulas, Blue poppies, Gentians and many wild flowers a large number of which are raised at homes and in nurseries.

Sikkim boasts of about 490 species of Orchids. Their habitat in the State include Alpine and sub-alpine zones at about 3,500 to 5,000 mts, temperate and sub-temperate zones at 1850 to 3500 mts, sub-tropical zone at 850 to 1850 mts and tropical zone at 250 to 850 mts.

Most orchids grow on the surface and are called terrestrial, some termed the epiphytes thrive on tree trunks while some grow on rocks and are called lithophytes.

In sikkim flourishes nearly 50% of the orchids in India. Most Orchids found in Sikkim are rare and endangered. A few are precariously on the verge of extinction like the Liparislydiaii, ceologyne barbatta and others.

Sikkim has about 40 varieties of the huge array of Rhododendrons.