About 60 million flowering plants will be used to cover parts of the city for the August Olympics.

60 per cent of the flowers bred are from abroad, 40 per cent are native to China. 1,500 Varieties. 132 Colours.

3000 bouquets will be given away to winning Olympic athletes, 4000 bundles to Paralympic athletes.

Flowers selected for Olympic Games can apparently withstand tough weather conditions and bloom in Beijing's heat and humidity come August.

Operation Beijing Bloom started threes ago: From Cross-breeding plants, bouquet arrangement and flower design contests, to hiring and firing landscape architects.  Horticulturists and botanists have been on standby for the big event.

A bouquet of sample flowers for medal winners at the Beijing Olympics are seen at the Olympic flower distribution centre in Beijing July 25, 2008. About 6,000 bouquets of flowers will be arranged for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games