White Bat Orchid
Tacca integrifolia
The White Bat Orchid is an exotic tropical plant with spectacular flowers featuring white wing-like bracts and long whisker-like filaments, creating a dramatic bat-in-flight appearance.
Dioscoreaceae (Yam family)
Late summer to fall (July-September), continuous when mature
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Similar flowers: parrot beak flowers and tacca chantrieris also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
Native to tropical Asian rainforests, this plant has captivated collectors worldwide with its extraordinary bat-like flowers. The complex flower structure with wing-like bracts and long whiskers creates an almost supernatural appearance. Often sold as a specialty item around Halloween due to its spooky bat resemblance. Despite its common name, it is not an orchid but belongs to the yam family. Its rarity and challenging care requirements make it a prized possession among tropical plant enthusiasts.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Part shade to full shade; bright indirect light, no direct sun
Water
Consistently moist but not waterlogged; high humidity essential
Soil
Rich, Well-drained, Acidic to neutral (pH 5.5-7.0), Humus-rich
Expert Growing Tips
Requires high humidity (60-80%); mist regularly or use humidifier
Plant in wide, shallow pots with excellent drainage
Use orchid potting mix: 50% bark, 40% peat, 10% sand
Provide good air circulation to prevent fungal issues
Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy
Fertilize with diluted orchid fertilizer bi-weekly during growing season
Reduce watering in winter during rest period
Blooms after producing at least 2 leaves; may bloom 8 times per season
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Exotic houseplant and collector's item
- Tropical conservatory specimen
- Shaded patio containers in summer
- Halloween-themed displays
- Botanical gardens and exhibitions
Traditional Uses
- Primarily ornamental; limited medicinal applications
- Related species used in traditional Asian medicine
- Note: Not a true orchid despite common name
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the White Bat Orchid
Is the white bat flower a real orchid?
Despite its common name, the White Bat Flower is not a true orchid. It belongs to the yam family (Dioscoreaceae), not the orchid family (Orchidaceae).
How hard is it to grow a bat flower?
Bat flowers are challenging to grow and require specific conditions: high humidity, consistent moisture, good air circulation, and no direct sun. They're similar to orchids in care requirements.
Why is it called the bat flower?
The flower is called bat flower because its wing-like white bracts and long drooping whiskers create a shape that resembles a bat in flight, especially when viewed from certain angles.
How often does a bat flower bloom?
Once mature, bat flowers can bloom successively for months and may produce flowers up to 8 times in one season, typically from late summer through fall.
Available Colors
Quick Facts
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Explore More Beautiful Flowers
Discover other flowers with similar meanings, characteristics, or cultural significance.
Parrot Beak Flower
Lotus berthelotii
Parrot Beak Flower is a rare and spectacular trailing plant from the Canary Islands, admired for its vivid crimson blooms that curve dramatically into a beak-like shape. Considered extinct in the wild, it symbolizes rarity, exotic beauty, and perseverance.
Tacca Chantrieri
Tacca chantrieri
Tacca chantrieri is an exotic plant with dramatic black flowers resembling a bat with long whiskers. It symbolizes mystery, transformation, and the supernatural.
Black Bat Orchid
Tacca chantrieri
The Black Bat Orchid is one of the most dramatic and exotic tropical plants in the world, known for its bat-wing-shaped near-black flowers and long whisker-like bracts. It symbolizes mystery, uniqueness, and the beauty of the unusual.