The purple variety is a dark dusky color that ranges from maroon to purple but often looks black.
A white flowering variety (Tacca integrifolia) grows twice as large as theblack variety.
The bat flower will bloom from late spring through early fall with new blooms appearing repeatedly throughout the season.
Rise Liao / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
It might be necessary to create a small microclimate that is hospitable to this somewhat delicate plant.
Soil
Bat flower needs a rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.
Amending soil with peat moss, pine bark, and compost may prove necessary to increase drainage.
Water
After planting, keep the soil moist and water consistently.
Fertilizer
Black bat flowers benefit from fertilizing.
Temperature and Humidity
Because bat flowers are semi-tropical plants, they do not tolerate cold temperatures.
If the temperature goes below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, bat flowers can die.
They are happiest when the temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
They can also be grown indoors but a consistently moist environment should be provided.
Using a plant mister and having a humidifier will help ensure the bat flower gets the moisture it needs.
Harvesting the seeds from the plant requires waiting until the seed pod has matured and split open.
Bat flower plants can also be propagated from a tuberous root or rhizome cutting.
Divide these rhizomes in the fall, and plant them three feet apart.
you’ve got the option to also order rhizomes from a catalog.
Be patient when propagating because the rhizomes need to reach a large enough size before they will form flowers.
Growing in Containers
It’s possible to grow black bat flower in containers.
If growing them indoors, locate them near a window with indirect sunlight.
They also appreciate decent air circulation, as opposed to a closed greenhouse environment.
Repotting once every year is a good rule of thumb.
A wide shallow pot works best.
you could put the containers outdoors in the summer, but avoid placing them in direct sunlight.
