Gavin's Bat plant presentation - May 2016

1. Bat plant
Tacca chantrieri
Tacca integrifolia

2. The Bat Plant is a curious and unique plant
native to the tropical jungles of South-east
Asia, grown for their bizarre looking flowers.

3. There are two main types of Bat Plant, the Black
Bat Plant and the White Bat Plant. Both plants
have large, wrinkled leaves and flowers which
resemble bats.

4. The white variety grows larger and the flowers
have two distinctive white ears. The black one
has two blackish purple wings.

5. Both plant’s flowers are on long stalks and have
long whiskers trailing down, adding to the odd
look.

6. We are lucky here in Coffs for we can grow them
outside in the garden. Further South, they will need
to be grown in a pot and taken indoors in Winter or
restricted to a conservatory or glasshouse.

7. In the garden, it will grow to about one metre
tall and one metre wide. It needs a shady,
sheltered and warm position with rich soil and
plenty of water in Summer.

8. In the winter, the plant needs to dry out a bit,
otherwise it can rot. Flowering time is Summer and
Autumn and individual blooms can last a long time.
Older plants can
have several
flowers at a time
and clump and
multiply from thick
underground
tubers which can
be divided in the
warmer months.

9. So, if you want to
grow something a
bit different and
start some chins
wagging, you can’t
go past the Bat
Plant.