Plant profile
Black bat plant
Tacca chantrieri
Also known as bat plant, black bat flower, bat flower, Tacca chantrieri.
Black bat plant is a genuine tropical shade plant with huge whiskered flowers and glossy leaves. It needs shelter, moisture and warmth, not a sunny tropical-garden position.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
- Lifecycle
- Rhizomatous tropical perennial
- Light
- Shade, Part shade
- Mature size
- Often around 60–100 cm tall and wide, with flower whiskers extending beyond the clump.
- Spacing
- Around 60–90 cm apart in a shaded garden.
- Growth habit
- Rhizomatous clump of broad glossy leaves with dark wing-like flower bracts and long thread-like whiskers.
- Native range
- Assam through southern China and mainland South-East Asia to Peninsular Malaysia
- Natural habitat
- Humid wet tropical forest, usually in shaded understorey.
When to plant
Tropical
February–November
Subtropical
September–April
Temperate
October–March
Arid inland
September–April
Mediterranean
September–April
Plant or repot as warm weather begins. In cool districts, keep it in a frost-free pot or protected structure.
Planting
Plant into rich, free-draining soil in deep filtered shade. Shelter it from dry wind and direct hot sun.
Position and light
Bright shade or heavily filtered light. Direct sun can burn the broad leaves, especially in warm coastal gardens.
Soil
Rich, organic soil or potting mix that holds moisture while draining freely. Keep the rhizome out of stagnant wet soil.
Watering
Keep evenly moist during active growth. If the plant dies back in cool weather, reduce watering until new shoots appear.
Feeding
Feed lightly every few weeks during active growth with a soluble flowering or balanced fertiliser at the label rate. Stop regular feeding during dormancy.
Pruning
Remove yellow or dead leaves and spent flower stems at the base. Do not cut healthy leaves simply to reduce size.
Propagation
Divide established rhizomes or grow from seed. Seed propagation is slow but practical with warmth and humidity. Division is the quickest method when the rhizome has produced several growing points. Keep at least one healthy shoot and a firm piece of rhizome with each division.
Common problems
Sun scorch, dry leaf edges, root or rhizome rot, snails and mealybugs can occur. Cold conditions can trigger dieback.
Safety notes
Grow as an ornamental and keep unknown plant material away from pets and children that chew plants.
Worth knowing
In a cooler climate the foliage may disappear over winter. Back off the water and wait for warm weather before deciding the rhizome is dead.
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