The Amazing “Bat Flower”

Linnaea Newman

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The Amazing “Bat Flower”

January 30th, 2007

Tacca chantrieri

Now here’s an exotic flower from TPIE 2007. As Barb Helfman and I toured the ever expanding show, we both agreed the purplish-black, whiskered "Bat Flower" was one of the more interesting that could be added to a BLOOMING PLANT program. The Tacca leaves resemble a Spathiphyllum at first glance, but this plant is unrelated, first being given its own class botanically, the Taccaceae, and more recently being added to the yam family, Dioscoreaceae.

Although the flowers must be staked, like orchids, to remain upright, they will last several months with adequate water and light. I recommend trying them on Sippers subirrigation pegs to avoid premature wilting. Currently they are available from sales@greendalenursery.com. And please let me know what you think!