Terrific TACCA. Flowers .aka Bat Plant

[Pedro 65]

Tacca integrifolia..common name Bat plant because of its Bat like Flowers which are very large..These love very very wet areas of your garden. Pete

[Cindy Adair]

Flowers just don't get any more weird, but wonderful than these! No care needed if they like where they are. The large leaves are a nice contrast with surrounding ferns and palms for me. Beautiful Pete!

[Gonzer]

I've yet to see one growing well in California.

[Pedro 65]

Cindy, yes the flowers are very wonderful and the great thing about their weird look for a flower is that even people not into plants "all stop" , then look and ask "wow, whats that"...everytime its in flower..Flowering has only just begun and 15 came out last year so the numbers should be a little up as each year the plant puts on more growth..No doubt you would have these in PR Cindy ?

Greg, these like it continually very moist to do well, ours is in the Licuala garden which is just that with 50% shadecloth above as the very soft huge leaves like protection from the sun. Pete

[virtualpalm]

Very nice, Pete. I love Tacca. I have three species growing quite well here in Miami: T. integrifolia (white bat plant), T. chantrieri (black bat plant; this one self seeds, usually popping up in potted plants), and T. palmatifida (common name?). Of the three, I have noticed that the black needs the most constant water, whereas the white has done surprisingly well during our very dry winter this year.

[Jeff Searle]

I love these as well. I just sold out of all my 1 gallon size this weekend at the sale. They were the black. The only problem with these here is the snails. They love them and can be quite a problem.

[Pedro 65]

Thanks Jody and Jeff, Im yet to plant any Black Bats, Id like some beside the White..Jody, I havnt heard of Tacca palmatafida so if you can post any pics Im very keen to view and having a name Palmatafida makes me more curious. Pete

[Daryl]

They are a great ground moisture indicator too...when they wilt it is time to water!

Daryl

[Laisla87]

I've yet to see one growing well in California.

Yeah, I was given one two years ago and it hasn't done much but sprout a couple of leaves.

[Cindy Adair]

Yes Pete, I have 6 of these in a shady area with Nutmeg and Cacao trees plus shade loving orchids and palms of course. Here's a link to some photos and an old thread http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/26107-white-bat-flower/?hl=%2Bwhite+%2Bbat+%2Bflower .

I had thought 3 of mine were white and 3 were black, but am not disappointed. I've seen the black bat for sale at a nearby weekly agricultural fair in Puerto Rico so will add those when I can.

I agree that even those who are not enthralled by Lipstick palms seem to like these! I had one for several years in a pot in my Virginia greenhouse. It bloomed once, but was taking up a lot of space with its large leaves so eventually I gave it away.

In Puerto Rico I have NEVER watered them, but picked a microclimate with their preferences in mind. Never fertilized them either.

I hope to collect seed if I'm ever there at the right time as there are other spots on my farm that could use such a nice high groundcover and I'm sure others would want some seeds.

[Pedro 65]

Yes Pete, I have 6 of these in a shady area with Nutmeg and Cacao trees plus shade loving orchids and palms of course. Here's a link to some photos and an old thread http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/26107-white-bat-flower/?hl=%2Bwhite+%2Bbat+%2Bflower .

I had thought 3 of mine were white and 3 were black, but am not disappointed. I've seen the black bat for sale at a nearby weekly agricultural fair in Puerto Rico so will add those when I can.

I agree that even those who are not enthralled by Lipstick palms seem to like these! I had one for several years in a pot in my Virginia greenhouse. It bloomed once, but was taking up a lot of space with its large leaves so eventually I gave it away.

In Puerto Rico I have NEVER watered them, but picked a microclimate with their preferences in mind. Never fertilized them either.

I hope to collect seed if I'm ever there at the right time as there are other spots on my farm that could use such a nice high groundcover and I'm sure others would want some seeds.

Thanks Cindy for the link to your thread which has many great pics, to all that have never seen Tacca in flower the thin white whisker like tassles that hang down, hang down for a good " 3 Feet".

If anyone has Tacca flowers to post..Please post..Thanks..Pete

[virtualpalm]

Here ya go, Pete. The flower is not as spetacular as T. integrifolia or T. chantrieri, but you can see from the shape of the leaf why it is called T. palmatifida.

Here are a couple photos of my white bat flowering last year:

My black bat is not flowering now, but it does have some seed pods on it:

And here are some of the volunteers that have popped up from different batches of seed from the black bat:

Jody

[Pedro 65]

Here ya go, Pete. The flower is not as spetacular as T. integrifolia or T. chantrieri, but you can see from the shape of the leaf why it is called T. palmatifida.

Tacca palmatifida 1.JPG Tacca palmatifida 2.JPG Tacca palmatifida 3.JPG

Here are a couple photos of my white bat flowering last year:

My black bat is not flowering now, but it does have some seed pods on it:

And here are some of the volunteers that have popped up from different batches of seed from the black bat:

Jody

Thanks for all the great shots Jody, yes the name Palmatifida is very apt, I very much look fwd to growing the Black Bats from seed. Pete

[aussiearoids]

At least 2 Taccas that look very much like Amorphophallus , one leontapetaloides is a native .

And another from Madagascar , has been called 'multifida' but I recently found that is incorrect .

One of the best specimens I have ever seen was grown by John Farrington at his show garden near Babinda.

John is pretty big bloke 2m easily .

[virtualpalm]

Michael, do you know where I could order some of the less common species?

[Pedro 65]

At least 2 Taccas that look very much like Amorphophallus , one leontapetaloides is a native .

And another from Madagascar , has been called 'multifida' but I recently found that is incorrect .

One of the best specimens I have ever seen was grown by John Farrington at his show garden near Babinda. white-bat-JF-350.jpg

John is pretty big bloke 2m easily .

Img_1314.jpg

Looks like ours

[aussiearoids]

Hard to find Jody .. will keep you in mind if I get seed set .

Not looking good this year.

[tropicbreeze]

Tacca leontopetaloides is very common and widespread, but the inflorescence is very unremarkable. It's quite variable, there's a broad leaflet form and a narrow leaflet form. The broad leaflet ones tend to become bigger plants with inflorescences 2 metres or over.

A broad leaflet group with inflorescences near 2 metres tall

The unremarkable inflorescence

Broad leaflet plant

Another broad leaflet plant

Narrow leaflet plant

[virtualpalm]

Both leaflet forms are interesting. In fact, the narrow form looks a little like Bowenia. Any seeds would be greatly appreciated.

[doranakandawatta]

your Taccas are fantastic!

ours is Tacca Chantrieri:

regards

Philippe