growing black bat flower from seed Tacca chantrieri

growing black bat flower from seed Tacca chantrieriTacca chantrieri is one of the strangest plants on the planet. Its dark purple blossoms are a foot across, with winged petals and long stamens that dangle a couple of feet. The blooms look like bat faces. This is quite a plant. Tacca grows wild in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and needs a warm, shady, humid setting with good air circulation. It's downright finicky, but in the right conditions will grow three feet tall and bloom profusely.

Tacca chantrieri is one of the strangest plants on the planet. Its dark purple blossoms are a foot across, with winged petals and long stamens that dangle a couple of feet. The blooms look like bat faces. This is quite a plant.

Tacca grows wild in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and needs a warm, shady, humid setting with good air circulation. It's downright finicky, but in the right conditions will grow three feet tall and bloom profusely.

Black Bat Flower will thrive in a container for years. If you live where it's hot and humid, you can grow it outdoors, but it is seriously tropical and does best indoors or in a greenhouse anywhere  else. Conditions have to be just right - filtered light, moist soil, good air circulation. When it's happy, it's robust, forming fat clumps that can send up a dozen blooms at a time.

This is a remarkable plant with beautiful foliage and extraordinary blooms. If you like a challenge, (or have a greenhouse), this plant is truly awesome.  

These fresh seeds were just collected and should germinate reliably. Older seeds are slower to germinate and can take up to 9 months to sprout. They're still worth the wait.

5 seeds

Soak seeds for 24 hours in warm water. If you have a thermos that is ideal to keep temperature consistent. If not, change water as frequently as possible to keep seeds warm.

Fill a pot with seed starting mix, (something containing a combination of perlite/vermiculite/peat moss/coir/pumice.) and water, allow to drain.

Place seeds 1/16 in. deep, and cover with light layer of soil. Use a spray bottle to keep soil moist, but not soaking wet. Do not water with a direct stream of water, this can bury seeds too deeply to germinate.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm/sunny location. Tacca needs consistent heat and moisture to germinate, ideally 80-85 degrees. Germination can take 2-6 months, please be patient!

Remove plastic wrap/dome cover once you have seedlings.