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Name That Plant!

Black bat-like leaves, small possibly purple flowers

8 years ago

Hi.

I am trying to find a plant for a lady I am interested in. She says she
remembers a plant from when she was a child that had black bat-like
leaves, and small flowers which she thinks were possibly purple. She
thinks there might have been Dracula in the name of the plant, but she's
not sure whether that was just what she called it as a child.

She says the plant was lower than knee-height.

I live in the UK, so it'd have to be a plant that is available in the
UK. I will relay any questions back to her if you need further details.

Regards,

Justin.

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Comments (16)

chicago311
8 years ago
Could she be mistaken as to seeing black bat like flowers? Tacca chantrieri?
Justin Cooper
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the response. I suggested that, and she said no. The closest I got was Black Taffeta, which she said didn't look quite right.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Plants that come up with the name 'dracula' include an orchid (not black leaves), Dracunculus vulgaris (also not with black leaves but with an unmistakably unforgettable 'flower') and a pitcher plant, Sarracenia dracula.

There are also bat wing begonias and bat wing alocasias but neither fits your description particularly well.
Justin Cooper
Original Author
8 years ago
She's confirmed that it's none of those. I appreciate your suggestions, though.
fatamorgana2121
8 years ago
Bat lily, Tacca sp. (bat lily) is what immediately came to mind for me.

Is there any other details she can remember like was it an indoor or outdoor plant? Outdoor will narrow the field a lot. Or where she saw it? Anything else??

FataMorgana
thedecoguy
8 years ago
One of the Black leaved Ipomeas ?
Justin Cooper
Original Author
8 years ago
She has said it isn't the Dracula's Kiss Isis, the Devil Flower, the Bat-faced Cupea, Black leaved Ipomea, or Bat lily, Tacca sp.

She told me that she got the plant in a pot, but kept it outside, and was told to keep rotating it so that each side got equal sun exposure.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
Dark leaved Ipomaeas, Dracunculus and Tacca are unlikely to have been much seen in the UK until very recently - even now the latter two are rare. Does the woman say this was an indoor plant? And can you find out where she saw it?

Maybe a dark Rex Begonia?
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
8 years ago
What about oxalis? Some are quite dark & do remind me of batwings
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
That's a good guess, Carol! Add the fact that the leaves fold up a bit at night, too.
Justin Cooper
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions. She says they look lovely, but no.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
Can you get any further information - any titbit would help. Did you see my questions?
RugbyHukr
8 years ago
Begonia 'Satin Doll'
Colocasia illustris

Alocasia ‘Zulu Mask’

Christia vespertilionis
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
justin.. i think she is messing with you ... lol ...

ken
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
Good list, RugbyHukr - but all would be very rare in the UK now, let alone a few years back. Really need more info. We don't even know yet if this was an indoor or outdoor plant.
PRO
AdeniumRose Company LLC
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
what about Christia vespertilionis? Butterfly wing plant?

Does anybody have these Christia vespertilionis plants (seedlings ok) not seeds)to trade?

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