Tacca chantrieri Green Isle

Tacca chantrieri 'Green Isle' is a rare form of this strange bulbous plant commonly known as the Bat Plant or Bat Flower, in shades of green and light brown. It unfurls its large bracts like wings around a cluster of dark flowers, accompanied by long green filaments trailing in graceful fringe. This inflorescence is borne on a stem emerging from a basal tuft of elongated, elegant, shiny green leaves. Native to tropical regions of Asia, this frost-tender plant is best suited for experienced or curious gardeners, and should be grown in a warm, humid greenhouse in a bright location, but without direct sunlight.

Tacca chantrieri belongs to the family Taccaceae, consisting of the only genus Tacca. It is a perennial rhizomatous species native to Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and nearby regions of China, naturalized and cultivated in many tropical Asian regions. In the wild, it is found growing in forests, valleys, along rivers, from 200m (656ft) up to 1300m (4265ft) altitude, on acidic and humus-rich soil. Under good growing conditions, it reaches a height of 75 to 90cm (30 to 35in) when flowering, 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) for the foliage. The 'Green Isle' variety is a form with unusual colours blending green and light brown.

The plant develops from thick rhizomes. It forms a clump of basal leaves, borne on petioles 10 to 30cm (4 to 12in) long, with oblong and entire lamina measuring 20 to 50cm (8 to 20in) (sometimes 60cm (24in)) in length and 7cm (3in) in width. The leaves resemble those of spathiphyllums. They are glabrous or pubescent, cuneiform, pointed at their tips. The foliage is bright green and shiny, with visible veins. In our climates, flowering occurs from June to August, and sporadically until December. Only plants aged 2 or 3 years produce inflorescences. This "bat flower" gets its name from its very distinctive inflorescence, which resembles the small mammal. The flowers are brown, fairly light, composed of 5 petals, clustered in bouquets (up to 25 flowers) at the centre of four bracts, two of which, in outer position, are particularly developed. They are tinted green and veined with light brown, turning brown. Each flower pedicel produces long trailing green filaments, 25cm (10in) long, forming a shooting star tail. The fruits are berries containing numerous small kidney-shaped seeds.

The 'Green Isle' bat flower is a plant for experienced gardeners, a curiosity to be admired up close, protected from cold and scorching sun, in a heated greenhouse or conservatory, without direct sunlight. It adorns itself with beautiful foliage and offers one of the most interesting flowers found in plants. As such, it can only provoke fascination and interest in those who contemplate it. However, it can sometimes be temperamental and demanding in terms of growing conditions. When it is happy, this plant grows, flowers abundantly, and even produces offshoots. When something is lacking, it slowly weakens and eventually disappears. Unfortunately, the only way to know if you can provide it with good growing conditions is to give it a try. Keep in mind that this plant originates from the hot and humid tropical areas of Asia and experiences some dryness during its rest period in winter in our latitudes.