Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri): Growing This Exotic Black Beauty Indoors

Botanical Name: Tacca chantrieri

Want a truly unusual flower? Look no further than the Bat Flower. Give it space to spread its wings—those dark, exotic blooms grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) across, with long "whiskers" reaching 24 inches (60 cm).

Rare Black Bat Plant for Sale

Native to the rainforests of Yunnan Province, China, this tropical perennial tolerates average indoor temperatures but despises dry air—which can make it challenging in many homes.

Give your plant the humidity it craves. If relative humidity drops below 50%, use a pebble tray or room humidifier to increase moisture. Grouping plants together also helps maintain humidity around them.

In early spring, repot rhizomes in fresh potting mix. Unlike many flowering plants, this one doesn't like to be crowded—give it room. This is also a good time to divide rhizomes and pot them separately.

Bat Flower Care Quick Reference

Photo credit: Meneerke Bloem

Origin: Tropical China

Height: Up to 3 ft (90 cm)

Light: Moderate to bright indirect light

Water: Keep soil lightly moist at all times. Use a pot with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil, which causes rhizome rot.

Humidity: Moderate to high, preferably 50–70% relative humidity.

Temperature: Steady 65–70°F (18–21°C) year-round.

Soil: Well-drained potting mix. A good all-purpose mix with a couple handfuls of perlite for extra drainage works well.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks with a 10-20-10 liquid fertilizer diluted by half during active growth and flowering.

Propagation: Divide rhizomes in spring and plant one piece per pot.