Dahlia Thomas A. Edison

Dahlia 'Thomas A. Edison' is a tall cultivar that presents a long and generous flowering with particularly captivating colours. Its large double flowers bloom throughout summer until autumn in dense and deep shades. They hover between a velvety purple and a dark violet with enticing nuances. Its stature and beautiful deep green foliage deserve a prominent place in the back of flower beds among pink or purple summer flowers. It also works well in large summer bouquets.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, dahlias are perennials with tubers that are sensitive to frost and need to be stored during winter in most regions. They appreciate sunny exposures and prefer rich soil for a long and colourful flowering. Their upright and rather bushy habit is ideal for flower beds alongside all the summer flowers. Their hollow stems stand up to 1.2m (4ft) in height and sometimes require staking. They bear opposite leaves composed of three to five leaflets. The shiny leaves boast a beautiful deep green colour and are subtly toothed. Beautiful double flowers proudly stand in the sun. They are made up of numerous rows of lanceolate ligules. They are tightly packed in the centre, folded in half lengthwise, and of a very dark, rich colour. The further they move away from the centre, the larger they become and flatten out, displaying lighter shades, from purple to violet. The whole flower easily reaches a diameter of 15cm (6in).

'Thomas A. Edison' brings a powerful touch to compositions that display the full range of pink. It also pairs well with other varieties of dahlia that echo its colour or shape. It also appreciates the company of echinaceas, lupins, and roses, with which it adds colour to the summer season. Cosmos and gauras complete the picture with a more ethereal note.