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Plant of the Month -Feb 2010

Tacca chantrieri & Tacca integrifolia “Bat Plant”

By Claire Bickle. Dip Hort. M.A.I.H

The intriguing flowers of the Bat Plant look as through they have come straight out of a science fiction movie. Both the Tacca chatrieri and the Tacca integrifoila have the most amazing eye catching, long, cat like whiskers protruding from the centre of each flower.There are 10 species in the Tacca genus but these two are by far the most popular. The first having the most amazing dark chocolate brown almost black flowersand the second, Tacca integrifolia, slightly larger flowers which are absolutely stunning, being a combination of white and purple. 

The foliage is equally as beautiful having large heavily veined basalleaves close to the ground. Bat plants are rhizomatous
perennials native to the tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia. They are best grown in the sub tropics and tropics but if you live outside these areas they best kept in greenhouses. When the weather is cold they will die down for a period of time. So do not be alarmed, you have not killed your prized Bat plant. They will reshoot as the weather warms up again. Some say the Tacca’s can be a bit tricky to grow but following the right growing instructions should ensure success. The Bat plants prefer a slightly acidic soil, so when re-potting or planting out use a Camellia and Azalea mix. They also love a humid atmosphere, so keep up the moisture throughout the summer months but in winter when they are dormant keep them almost completely dry. Tacca’s are not fond of temperatures that drop below 13’C, if you are likely to experience these cooler winter nights it is probably best to grow your Bat plant in a pot so that it can be moved to a warm protected spot during this time. Another bonus to growing the Bat plant in
a pot is that it can then be moved around and admired when in flower.

Having a Tacca chantrieri or Tacca integrifolia in flower on your veranda this summer will be an instant conversation starter. People will want to know immediately “What is that amazing plant?”
 

Claire