The creator and curator of the collection from 1976 to 2003 was candidate of biological sciences Ivan Vasilyevich Loznukho. In 2003-2009, the collection was curated by biological sciences Lidiya Vasilyevna Kukhareva. Since 2009, the curator of the collection is Svetlana Pavlovna Torchik.
The creation of the collection and the study of rare plant species in the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus was started by the staff of the laboratory of ecology and nature conservation under the supervision of Doctor of Biological Sciences A.V. Boyko. They, simultaneously with conducting detailed biogeocenotic studies of the natural complexes of the Pripyat Landscape-Hydrological Reserve and Nalibokskaya Pushcha, established the places of natural growth of individual species of rare plants, which in 1976 were brought to the botanical garden to assess the degree of sustainability and adaptability in cultural conditions. Later, the collection was replenished not only from natural habitats of Belarus, but also through the receipt of seeds and living plants from botanical institutions in neighboring and distant foreign countries.
Since 1983, a comparative study of the ecological and biological characteristics of rare and endangered species of the flora of Belarus in nature and culture, and the development of methods for their reproduction have been carried out in the laboratory for the mobilization of plant resources (now the laboratory for the biodiversity of plant resources).
Active work on the formation of the collection made it possible by the end of the vegetation period of 2000 to attract 90 species belonging to 63 genera of 33 families for introduction studies.
In 2005, based on the decision of the Board of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus dated July 25, 2005 No. 7/6, the collection “Rare and Endangered Species of Natural Flora of Belarus” of the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is included in the state register of botanical collections (certificate of botanical collection No. 23).
As of the end of 2005, the collection of rare and endangered species of the natural flora of Belarus was represented by 86 species belonging to 72 genera of 36 families. However, observations of the plants showed that the growing conditions did not meet biological requirements. Some species were in a depressed state. Due to this, the species dropped out of the collection. In order to optimize the growing conditions during this period, the collection is transferred to a new site. The collection gene pool in 2008 consisted of 82 species belonging to 69 genera of 32 families.
Taking into account the results of phenological observations, testing various agrotechnical methods of maintenance and regulation of mineral nutrition and water regime made it possible to restore individual species that had dropped out of the collection. In 2009, the collection fund of protected plants numbered 86 species belonging to 72 genera of 32 families (Figure). The greatest number of species were represented by plants of the third and fourth vulnerability categories. Therefore, starting from 2009, the main attention has been paid to attracting and studying species of 0, I and II vulnerability categories, both the most significant and problematic from the standpoint of their conservation in nature, and few in number in the collection of the Central Botanical Garden of the NAS of Belarus. During this period, a new exposition is being established, in which the placement of plants is carried out taking into account their requirements for environmental growing conditions. In 2010, the collection of rare and endangered plants of the flora of Belarus numbered 109 species belonging to 89 genera of 41 families; in 2011 - 111 species (90 genera) 43 families; in 2012 - 123 species (98 genera) 41 families.
At the end of the vegetation period of 2013, the collection "Rare and Endangered Plant Species of the Natural Flora of Belarus" contains 133 species (163 species specimens) belonging to 98 genera of 44 families (figure) and includes:
