Burpee Seeds and Plants
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture, Horticulture |
| Founded | January 1, 1876 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Founder | Washington Atlee Burpee |
| Fate | Acquired by General Foods (1970), later by ITT Corporation (1979), then by investors (1987), and George Ball, Inc. (1991) |
| Headquarters | Warminster , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | James Mattikow (President and CEO, 2019–present) |
| Products | Seeds, plants, seed-starting kits |
| Owner | George Ball, Inc. |
| Parent | George Ball, Inc. |
| Website | burpee |
Burpee Seeds and Plants, formally known as W. Atlee Burpee & Co., is a U.S.-based seed and plant enterprise founded by Washington Atlee Burpee in Pennsylvania during 1876.
Founding period (1876–1915)
The company W. Atlee Burpee & Company was launched in 1876 by Washington Atlee Burpee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally operating as a mail-order business specializing in poultry. It rapidly diversified into garden seeds, agricultural supplies, tools, and livestock due to growing customer interest in seeds. In 1888, Burpee established Fordhook Farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, serving as a family farm and an experimental station to acclimate European seed varieties to North American environments. This site became one of the first seed trial facilities in the United States. By the turn of the century, the firm had developed one of the largest mail and freight distribution systems of its era. Cousin Luther Burbank notably visited Fordhook Farm, inspiring intensified seed experimentation and leading to the creation of additional research centers, including one set up in California in 1909.
Growth and development (1915–1970)
Following the passing of founder W. Atlee Burpee in 1915, his son, David Burpee, assumed leadership and redirected company focus toward flower hybridization and championing victory gardens during World War I. Under David’s guidance, the business enhanced product innovation through genetic seed improvements and bolstered marketing efforts with vibrant full-color ads highlighting seed dependability under the slogan "Burpee's Seeds Grow." The catalog was refined to improve customer accessibility, resulting in an average transaction value of $4 per order. Renowned artists such as Paul de Longpre contributed to the catalog’s visual appeal.
After Luther Burbank died in 1926, Burpee acquired rights to his breeding experiments but did not release major commercial varieties from them. In 1949, the introduction of the Big Boy tomato hybrid became a best-selling item that significantly reinforced the company’s market position.
Ownership transitions (1970–present)
In 1970, David Burpee sold the enterprise to General Foods for $10 million, marking a significant corporate transition. By 1974, Burpee moved its main office to Warminster, Pennsylvania, strategically located near commuter rail services. During the 1970s, the company innovated by launching seed-starting kits aimed at novice gardeners.
After being acquired by ITT Corporation in 1979, Burpee encountered challenges throughout the 1980s as consumer trends shifted toward purchasing plants rather than seeds and garden sizes diminished. ITT’s ineffective management led to declining revenues, culminating in a $15 million buyout by investors including McKinsey & Company in 1987.
In 1991, George Ball, Inc., a diversified horticulture corporation, purchased Burpee and broadened its product range with distinctive plant varieties alongside expanding retail distribution channels such as an online store launch. Jonathan Burpee, founder Washington’s grandson, was the final family member actively involved in operations.
By 1998, Ball reacquired Fordhook Farm—the original breeding ground for key cultivars like Iceberg lettuce and Big Boy tomato—to create a horticultural center fostering innovation. Presently, most of Burpee’s seeds are cultivated in California as part of its global operational strategy.
In March 2019, James Mattikow was named president and CEO, providing strategic direction aimed at sustaining growth and strengthening market presence.
White marigold
In 1919, David Burpee, the company's founder, initiated efforts to hybridize marigolds in order to overcome their limited color options and late flowering period. He imagined creating a competition focused on white marigolds but postponed it due to uncertainty about achieving success.
The white marigold contest was introduced by W. Atlee Burpee & Co. in their 1954 catalog, with a $10,000 reward for the first truly white marigold. After 21 years, the prize was finally claimed in 1975 by Alice Vonk from Sully, Iowa, who had spent two decades selectively breeding seeds from the palest flowers. Her winning bloom measured 2.5 inches across and was chosen from more than 8,200 submissions. Burpee marketed this variety as "Burpee's Best Whites," which became one of the most popular fragrance-free flowers in the United States by 1960. This accomplishment highlighted the company's commitment to innovation and its leadership position in the horticulture industry.
External links
- Burpee catalog cover gallery
- Dennis Werner Collection of Seed Catalogs 1883-2013, featuring approximately 90 annual W. Atlee Burpee & Co. publications