Plant Profile: Bat Plant (Tacca spp.)

If you ever wanted a statement plant for a nice, protected part of your garden, look no further than the Bat Plant. Also known as the Bat Flower, Cat’s Whiskers and Bat-head Lily, the Bat Plant’s large, lush emerald leaves are surrounded by stunning flowers that mimic a bat in flight.

The Bat Plant comes in two equally impressive types; a white variety (Tacca integrifolia) and a black variety (Tacca chantieri).

This exotic beauty hails from the yam family and despite it being native to the tropical jungles of Asia, it will happily grow throughout the warmer parts of Australia if given the right conditions and some care and attention.

Naturally growing in damp ground, they require a warm, humid environment to really thrive.

The Bat Plant is a true shade lover, so low light conditions and minimal direct sun is a must. Most indoor locations or a sheltered outdoor position will do fine.

In their native region they grow from rhizomes as understory plants in well drained, moist soil. If you’re intending to grow these in the garden, make sure the soil holds water well but is extremely well-drained.

If potting these into containers, pots or planter boxes, use a Professional or Premium grade potting mix such as Rocky Point’s Coco Pro or Premium Potting Mix. Both these mixes combine excellent air-filled porosity and water holding capacity, allowing for suitable drainage for these fussy plants.

If you already have some potting mix, try adding some Rocky Point Orchid Mix to improve airflow, prevent water logging and improve drainage.

Bat Plants should be planted in time for the start of Spring, with flowering usually occurring late Summer and into Autumn. To care for these finicky plants, fertilise lightly but regularly during the growing season, from Spring to early Autumn. Mist plants regularly in times of low humidity and ensure the soil or mix remains moist during the warmer months. The large leaves will tatter and burn if exposed to direct sun and wind, so be sure to provide some protection from the elements. During Winter when the plant is dormant, it is possible to separate the rhizome to make more plants to grow and replant.

The Bat Plant is quite unlike any other you will find. If you can look after them, you may just have a cloud of bats (of the flowering variety) on your hands.