Black Bat Orchid Flower Seeds (Tacca chantrieri) The Black Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri) is One of the Most Unique Extraterrestrial Looking Flowers that can be Planted Outdoor and Indoors. This Very Rare Flower is a Type of Orchid that Looks like a Flying Bat in Terms of it's Shape and Color. As a native tropical flowery plant of Asia, these flowers grow wildly in Southern China, especially in Yunnan Province. It can also be found in some Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand and Malaysia. Although it is classified as a tropical plant, this flower can be grown in subtropical areas and does Great Indoors in cooler areas. White Bat Flower, a rare variety which is known as Tacca integrifolia. It is considered a Newer More Rare Version of black flower and characterized by white brackets. This summer patio plant will stick out in your visitor's minds—its flower form is unexpected and extraordinary. It's named for its bat-in-flight shape, but the deep purple and cream white tones, heavy veining and flowing lines almost look like something out of an art nouveau painting. Past the patio, this variety also makes an excellent indoor plant. In fact, it must be taken inside through winter in all but zone 10. Not only the habit, but its light requirements make it a good indoor plant. Because it's native to the deep understory of Asian rainforests, it prefers full shade or low light. No need for a big bay window or strategically placed artificial lights to keep it healthy in the home. It blooms August through September over lush, green crinkled foliage that keeps up this tropical look through the season. Botanical Name Tacca chantrieri Common Name Bat flower, tiger beard, cat's whiskers, devil's flower Plant Type Perennial Mature Size 36 inches tall, 12 inches wide Sun Exposure Partial sun to dappled shade Soil Type Fertile, well-drained Soil pH 6.1 to 7.5 Bloom Time Late summer through fall Flower Color Black (dark purple) Hardiness Zones 9b to 11 Native Areas Southeast Asia, Australia Bat Flower Germination: 1) Sow the seeds into a moist potting compost mix with some perlite vermiculite for great drainage. 2) Use a heated propagator under them to keep the soil around 85 degrees to help speed germination rates. 3) Very easy to grow, but Patience is needed as with any Exotic or Tropical seeds, and germination is erratic can take anywhere from one to nine months;...But these Unique Extraterrestrial Looking Flowers are Definitely Worth the Wait!