Tacca palmata Plant Care
Tacca palmata Blume
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Tacca palmata is a plant in the Dioscoreaceae family, native to Borneo, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Every 7–10 days
Bright indirect to medium light
65–80°F
60–80%
At a glance
How do you care for Tacca palmata?
Water Tacca palmata every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it bright indirect to medium light. It prefers temperatures of 65–80°F (18–27°C) and 60–80% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Tacca palmata Native To?
What Is the Tacca palmata?
Tacca palmata (Tacca palmata) belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family within the Tacca genus. Tacca palmata is native to Borneo, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Tacca palmata displays a clumping herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Tacca palmata produces unique bat-like flowers with long bracts.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Tacca palmata?
Tacca palmata requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Tacca palmata Need?
Tacca palmata thrives in bright indirect to medium light. Avoid placing Tacca palmata in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect to medium light
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Tacca palmata Prefer?
Tacca palmata grows best at temperatures of 65–80°F. Tacca palmata prefers humidity levels of 60–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–80°F
Humidity
60–80%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Tacca palmata?
Rich, well-draining soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Tacca palmata to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Tacca palmata?
Feed Tacca palmata every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Tacca palmata?
Repot every 1-2 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Tacca palmata?
Tacca palmata can be propagated through division of rhizomes, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bat flower plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Tacca palmata Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Tacca palmata, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Tacca palmata?
Tacca palmata is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Tacca palmata Need?
Tacca palmata grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Tacca palmata is native to Borneo, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand, and Vietnam. In cooler regions, grow Tacca palmata as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Tacca palmata is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Tacca genus — compare its care with other Tacca species on PlantoScan.
Tacca is part of the Dioscoreaceae plant family — browse all Dioscoreaceae genera and species.
Tacca palmata thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Tacca Species
Other Tacca species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Tacca palmata Blume, family Dioscoreaceae (first published in Enum. Pl. Javae 1: 83 (1827)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Tacca palmata, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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