Green Bat Plant

Green Bat Plant (Tacca chantrieri) is the shade plant people stop and photograph. It grows 60cm to 1m tall and up to 1m wide, with large, lush leaves and olive green flowers that trail long, dangling whiskers like bats in flight. It comes from tropical rainforest, so it wants warmth, humidity and filtered shade.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers like nothing else. The olive green, bat shaped blooms and their long whiskers are strange enough that visitors always ask what the plant is.
• Foliage that carries the look. Large decorative leaves give a lush, jungle feel even when the plant is not in flower.
• Made for shade. It thrives in the indirect light where many flowering plants sulk, outdoors in a tropical bed or indoors by a bright window.
• Happy in a pot. A container keeps it close for admiring, and lets cool climate gardeners move it under cover.
• Easy to share. Young plants sprout from the clump each year. Lift them, pot them up and pass them on.

Where it works best

Shaded tropical beds. Plant 80cm apart under a tree canopy or on the sheltered side of a building, where it gets indirect light and humidity. At that spacing the clumps meet in a dense, leafy layer.

Containers. Choose a pot with good drainage and a generous size, because bat plants like room and need repotting each year.

Indoors. In a bright room with indirect light, it makes a distinctive feature plant. Spritz the leaves with water to keep humidity up.

Growing Green Bat Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in shade with indirect sunlight, in a frost free and humid position. Outdoors that means tropical and subtropical gardens. Further south, grow it in a pot on a sheltered verandah in the warm months and bring it inside before cold weather. Frost will damage it.

Soil. Free draining soil is essential. In garden beds, mix in a handful of sand. In pots, check the drainage holes before planting.

Water and feed. Water regularly for the first 12 weeks or until the plant is established, then keep it evenly moist. Feed twice a year with a fertiliser made for acid loving plants, such as azalea and camellia food. For best results add a liquid feed every two to four weeks in the warm months.

Pruning. None is needed. Simply remove old leaves to keep it tidy. Foliage may die back in the cooler months as the plant rests, so clear the spent leaves and protect it from frost.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Green Bat Plant as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Expect a small, leafy plant rather than one in flower. Bat flowers come as the clump matures, which can take a season or two, and warmth and humidity speed it along. Pot it up promptly and keep it out of direct sun.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Designing a lush tropical garden that stays green
• Explore more tropical plants
• Palms, ferns and tropical foliage
• Growing exotic tropicals indoors

Common questions

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes. Give it a bright spot with indirect light, a pot with good drainage and regular misting. Keep it away from harsh direct sun and from cold draughts.

Why have the leaves died back?

Foliage can die back in the cooler months while the plant is dormant. Remove the spent leaves, protect it from frost and keep it just moist. New growth returns with the warmth.

How often should I repot it?

Once a year. Bat plants love plenty of room, and the annual repot is also the moment to lift off young plants that have sprouted and pot them separately.