Four years ago, a teacher gave everyone in Ed Malcolm-Tait’s class at Wadestown School a plant to look after. His was a dahlia and the miracle of it producing a glorious flower made a serious impression. “I thought it was really cool,” he says, “so I bought another and another and another…”
He was aged nine at the time and caught the flower-growing bug in a big way. The now 13-year-old has more than 50 dahlias growing in his family’s Wellington garden. It’s not 100% dahlias; the super-keen gardener grows other flowers and vegetables – but it’s mostly dahlias.
Ed Malcolm Tait, the 13-year-old dahlia grower from Wellington. Photo by Nicola Edmonds.
This is understandable to anyone who knows dahlias: they are generous plants in sunny gardens, with multiple variations of bright, happy blooms. Some the size of a child’s face, some tight balls of precision, others pretty, spikey or frilly, they wear glorious hues in every imaginable colour from eggy yellow to scarlet, deep reds, rust oranges, creams and pinks; some have differing shades seemingly painted up their petals in explosive streaks. The sheer variety probably explains their addictive quality.
Of course, Ed is not the only Kiwi to collect dahlias, however he’s possibly one of the youngest. And it’s probably safe to say there are not many teenage boys who are obsessive – his word – about growing them.
“I do have other interests,” he insists. “I’m not just focused on one thing! Although yes, I am fairly interested in dahlias. I play hockey, I play video games and I like stand-up comedy…
“It might be a bit of a problem for my parents, because I have taken over the garden. But they support me growing dahlias; they like that I’m not playing video games all day.”
Some of the beautiful dahlia blooms grown by Ed Malcolm-Tait. Photo by Nicola Edmonds.
Ed’s mother and sister are gardeners (when there is space on the property for their planting projects) and his grandparents are, too. They have given him good gardening advice and gardening-related birthday gifts. Unsurprisingly, Ed subscribes to gardening magazines, has a decent library of gardening books and has Bulbs Direct, an online bulb supplier, bookmarked for frequent purchases. And while none of his Year 9 peers are gardeners to his knowledge, he knows plenty of young people who are driven to achieve and is happy to share advice to those wanting to be extra good at something.
“Just keep trying. Persevere. Find something you really like doing and put your energy into that.
“I love growing because it’s like you’re taking care of something and when the dahlia blooms and it’s really beautiful you can think, 'oh wow I did that,' I nurtured this plant and made this happen.”
13-year-old Ed Malcolm Tait tending to his dahlias in Wellington. Photo by Nicola Edmonds.
Ed is trying to create a new dahlia, too, combining the characteristics of two favourites with the pollen of one fertilising the other. If it goes well, he may enter the blooms in dahlia shows next season – and even if not, some of his regular specimens are potential prize-winners.
Also on the cards is the possibility of recouping some of his investment by selling bouquets to those who love dahlias but don’t have enough sun in their gardens to grow them.
Story by Kathryn Webster, photos by Nicola Edmonds for the Winter 2023 issue of AA Directions.
Explore more from AA Directions magazine while you're here:
- Q&A with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Composer and Choreographer
- Spend a long weekend exploring the tranquility of Aotea Great Barrier Island
- Meet an innovative Kiwi company making sustainable, non-toxic paints
