Rare Russian tulip visits The Netherlands

16:35 10th March 2010

An extremely rare Russian tulip is set to go on display for the first time in The Netherlands later this month.

The Keukenhof event will play host to the almost black Baba Yaga as part of its From Russia with Love-themed show.

Taking place from March 18th to May 16th, the display will also include a number of other rare and beautiful Russian cultivars.

Its floral centrepiece is sure to draw the eyes of the 800,000 visitors the show attracts each year.

The mosaic of Moscow's St Basil's Cathedral will be made up of 65,000 bulbs, including carmine red, orange and white tulips.

In total, around seven million bulbs are expected to be used in the show, meaning visitors will have no end of places to look for inspiration for their own garden and greenhouse.

Meanwhile, environment secretary Hilary Benn recently called for a phase out of peat-based composts in the UK market.

He is concerned about the environmental impact of extracting the material.