Description:

Tacca chantrieri is a clump forming herbaceous perennial bearing exotic, log stemmed flowers. Reaching lengths of up to 38cm (15 inch) broad, 20cm (8 inch) wide, the smooth, lanceolate leaves, with angular pleats, are dark green with an under surface color of grayish green. The flowers are black and up to 30cm (12 inch) across. Curious plant with up to 25 flowers on bat-like (both in shape and color) inflorescences, where each umbel has a pair of large spreading, wing-like rich maroon-black bracts.


The four large black bracts look almost like bat wings with long 10cm (4 inch) threadlike tails extending from the tip of each of the flower petals, leading to another of its common names, 'Cat's Whiskers Plant'. The bracts are accompanied by 25cm (10 inch) long trailing filaments or “whiskers” forming a flowing forked tail, which emanate from the nearly black with some purple, flower scape.


The scapes (flower stem from the base of plant to where the flower actually is) are about 63cm (24 inch) long. The small black 5 petals flowers are succeeded by heavy berries. Flowering seems to begin when the plants have produced 2-3 full-size leaves. Each plant produces at least 6 and up to 12 flower stems during the warm months of the year. Seed pods will remain on the plant for quite a long time. The leathery capsules (about 4cm (1.5 inch) long) require up to a year to ripen.


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Scientific Classification:

Common Name:Bat Flower, Black Bat Flower, Cats Whiskers, Devil Flower, Bat Head Lily, Bat Plant, Devil’s Tongue, Black Tacca, Jews Beard, Voodoo Flower
Scientific Name:Tacca chantrieri André, 1901
Family:Dioscoreaceae




Genus:Tacca
Synonyms:Clerodendrum esquirolii, Schizocapsa breviscapa,Schizocapsa itagakii,Tacca esquirolii, Tacca garrettii,Tacca macrantha,Tacca minor,Tacca paxiana,Tacca roxburghii,Tacca vespertilio,Tacca wilsonii
Temperature:Hardiness zone: 10-11
Origin:Tacca chantrierei is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, and southern China: particularly Yunnan Province. 
Toxicity: Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses



How to Grow and Care: 


Bat flower info varies on the amount of cold this plant can take. One source says it should not be exposed to temperatures below 55 F. (13 C.) while another says it can handle temps down to the mid 30's (2 C.). Take care to keep your bat flower away from cold temps and away from the sun. When growing this plant outside, plant it in the shade.

Care of bat flower indoors will include a shady location as well, and yearly repotting for the rapidly growing plant. This plant does not like to be root bound. Pot up until reaching a 10- or 12-inch (25-30.5 cm.) Pot; after that, trim the roots and return to the same size pot if desired.

Light: Tacca needs a northern, eastern or western exposure of shade or partial sun.

Temperature: Maintain temperatures indoors above 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity: The bat plant is an understory plant growing in high humidity areas. Keep plants above 50% of higher humidity. Plants will tolerate lower humidity levels.

Watering: Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly until the potting mix soil is completely saturated and water runs out the bottom of the pot. Try submerging the whole pot and plant into a bucket of water until all air bubbles stop. Drain off excess water. Overwatering and wet soil will cause root rot.

Fertilizer: Feed the bat flower with a balanced liquid fertilizer at 1/3 strength every two weeks during the growing season.


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Special Considerations:

Tacca needs to be protected from direct sun, from wind and from temperatures below 40 degrees F. Their soil must be moist, but not wet. They are not among our "carefree" varieties. But in exchange for that care, they provide one of the most dazzling displays of any plants to be found anywhere. They are evergreen, and bloom prolifically, and can be made very happy indoors all year long where they will continue to bloom their haunting blooms, which can also make long-lasting cut flowers for arrangements that will stun one and all. Enjoy!


Propagation:


Batflowers can be propagated from seeds or by rhizome division. But seeds can take months and are difficult to germinate, so most people opt for division. Separate rhizomes of an established plant in the spring or fall, and either replant them in the ground or a suitable container.


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