Thomas A Edison

Thomas A Edison is a true piece of American dahlia history: a grand, deep-purple informal decorative introduced in 1929. His broad, relaxed petals build a large, dimensional flower in a saturated royal-to-deep purple that feels almost velvety beside the dark stems.

Bloomed at Hedge & Alchemy in our 2026 garden.

📖 From the journal of Hedge & Alchemy

Holy moly. The color is unreal: one of the most stunning purples I’ve ever seen. Large blooms and lots of them, on strong, dark, gorgeous stems, though mine were not especially long. He benefits from disbudding and solid staking and is absolutely stunning in arrangements.

🕯️ History & Preservation

Introduced by Dahliadel in 1929, Thomas A Edison has survived nearly a century of changing tastes and breeding trends. Historic cultivars like this are part of why I collect dahlias: I hope to keep them growing, dividing, and moving into future gardens rather than allowing them to disappear into old catalogs.

📋 Cultivar Notes

• Breeder / Hybridizer: Dahliadel / Warren Maytrott
• Year of Introduction: 1929
• Origin: USA
• Form: Informal Decorative (ID)
• ADS Classification Number: 2109 (B / Medium / Informal Decorative / Purple)
• Cut Flower Status: Good. Best used as a dramatic focal flower, with disbudding helpful for larger, cleaner blooms.
• Show & Exhibition Flower Status: Historic exhibition cultivar; confirm the current ADS class before entering.

🌸 In the Garden

• Bloom: Approximately 6 to 8 inches, with loosely arranged informal decorative petals in saturated deep purple.
• Plant Height & Habit: Around 4 feet tall with strong, dark stems and an upright habit.
• Growing Notes: Stake well and disbud when larger exhibition-style flowers are desired.
• Tuber Yield: Not yet tracked at Hedge & Alchemy.