Tacca Chantrieri (Bat Plant - Black)

Want a truly unusual flower? Look no further than the Bat Plant, with dark, exotic flowers that grow up to 30 cm across, and feature "whiskers," making T. chantrieri an intriguing houseplant and a real conversation-starter.

You can expect flowers when your plant gets enough sunlight, typically in late spring through summer. Blooms are may be black, brown or purplish, and made up of 6-lobed umbels, surrounded by 2 bracts that look like wings. Long, whisker-like threads reach up to 60 cm long. If you can give your plant the light, moisture and humidity it craves, you may see several flowers at the same time. It's quite a sight.

Its lush, lance-shaped leaves are broad, and can reach lengths of 65cm or more. This is a plant that needs plenty of room.

Native to the rainforest in Yunnan Province, China, this tropical perennial is suited to average indoor temperatures. However, it doesn't like dry air at all, which can make it difficult to please in many homes. Give your plant the humidity it craves. If the relative humidity drops below 50%, use a pebble tray or room humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. Grouping plants also helps to maintain the humidity around them.

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