The Striking Bat Flower: A Rare and Dramatic Bloom

The Tacca chantrieri, often called black orchid or bat flower, is a truly remarkable plant that captivates with its unusual dark hue and bat-like appearance. Its large bracts resemble wings, creating a dramatic and otherworldly effect.

Key Features of the Bat Flower

This herbaceous flowering geophyte, native to Southeast Asia, thrives in Zones 9 to 11. While typically purple in direct light, it appears black in most settings. Each bloom features multiple ‘whiskers’ or bracteoles hanging down, adding to its unique aesthetic.

Growing and Caring for Tacca Chantrieri

Tacca chantrieri blooms during the summer and can reach heights of up to 54 inches. It prefers dappled sunlight to shade and thrives in humus-rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.5). It’s a relatively slow grower, taking approximately one year to mature.

Quick Look

Common Name(s): Bat flower, black arrowroot, black lily, black orchid, cat’s whiskers, devil flower, tiger beard
Plant Type: Herbaceous, flowering geophyte
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 9-11 (outdoors)
Native to: Southeast Asia
Bloom Time / Season: Summer
Exposure: Dappled sun to shade
Soil Type: Humus rich, loose, well-draining
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5, slightly acidic to neutral
Time to Maturity: 1 year
Mature Size: 54 inches tall by 24 inches wide
Best Uses: Shade gardens, houseplant, specimen

Taxonomy

Order: Discoreales
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Genus:Tacca
Species:Chantrieri

A related species, Tacca integrifolia, features white bracts with mauve stripes. While similar, it grows larger and has white top bracts.