White bat lily Tacca integrifolia
White bat lily (Tacca integrifolia) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Dioscoreaceae family, native to NE India and southern China to Indochina and western Malesia, including Singapore (shady, moist forest floor). It grows 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) tall and 50–90 cm (20–35 in) wide, wants shade and high water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 60 cm (24 in) apart.
Plan White bat lily in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
White bat lily at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Dioscoreaceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) |
| Mature spread | 50–90 cm (20–35 in) |
| Spacing | 60 cm (24 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 1 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–6.8 |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 9–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | NE India and southern China to Indochina and western Malesia, including Singapore (shady, moist forest floor) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Is White bat lily toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: rhizome
Raw Tacca rhizomes are bitter (taccalin); not eaten raw.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with White bat lily
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and high water.
See White bat lily in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (30 plants)
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (6 plants)
Questions about White bat lily
- How far apart should I plant White bat lily?
- About 60 cm (24 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 50–90 cm (20–35 in).
- Does White bat lily need full sun?
- Shade: at least 1 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does White bat lily need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is White bat lily?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does White bat lily flower?
- From about April for 9–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is White bat lily poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. Raw Tacca rhizomes are bitter (taccalin); not eaten raw.
- What grows well with White bat lily?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for White bat lily. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- Dark purple-black flowers under two large white "bat-wing" bracts, with long thread-like whiskers.
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- White yam Dioscorea rotundata
- Chinese yam (nagaimo) Dioscorea polystachya
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea