What plants grow well with tortoises
David Edwards
Updated on April 14, 2026
Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). These large shrubs are great plants for tortoise pens. … Aloe (Aloe species). … Jade Plant (Crassula argentea). … Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia species). … Yucca (Yucca species).
What plants can tortoises live with?
- Tropical Hibiscus.
- Aloe.
- Geranium.
- Lemon Balm.
- Plaintain.
- Grapes.
- Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus.
- Bermuda grass.
What can I put in a tortoise habitat?
Tortoises love to dig and bury so a sand and soil mix is an excellent substrate. Hides, a water dish and other features such as wooden bridges and edible plants such as dandelions can be added to the enclosure. Tortoises do, however, have predators such as large birds, foxes and other pets.
What garden plants can tortoises eat?
- Lemon Balm. …
- Red Sorrel. …
- Plaintain Assorted. …
- Self Heal. …
- Callisia repens. …
- Dandelion – flowers & leaves. …
- Aloe vera.
- Antirrhinum – flowers & leaves.
Can I put succulents with my tortoise?
Succulents. Succulents make excellent tortoise table plants, especially for desert-dwelling tortoise species. Tortoises can also eat succulents and providing desert tortoises with succulents may help mimic their natural habitat.
What plants can tortoises eat UK?
Tortoises should eat a very varied diet of weeds and flowers with calcium supplement. Safe weeds/plants include; plantains, dandelion leaves and flowers, hawkweeds, mallow, sow-thistle, chickweed catsear, hibiscus flowers, nasturtiums, pansies and violas.
What is poisonous to tortoises?
And some plants that are poisonous to your tortoise: Lupins, Daffodils, Hydrangea, Lily of the valley, Foxglove, Mistletoe, Rhododendron, Narcissus, Rhubarb, Hellebores, Crocus, Bleeding heart, Ragwort, Azalea, Vinca, Hypericum, Peony, Lobelia, Aconite, Tobacco plant & Euphorbia’s.
Can tortoises eat cucumber?
Food and Water A tortoise’s diet should replicate wild foraging. Choose a variety of leafy greens and grasses to feed your pet. Supplement greens with smaller quantities of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, and carrots, apples, apricots, grapes, melons, peaches, and strawberries.What flowers can tortoise eat?
- Geraniums.
- Lemon Balm.
- Plaintain.
- Turtle Vine.
- Aloe Vera.
- Cactus.
- Dandelions.
- Clover.
Safe ornamental plant which is fine planted in the tortoise enclosure and will do no harm if it is nibbled.
Article first time published onWhat soil do tortoises use?
Popular indoor substrates for tortoises include coconut coir, soil & coconut coir mix, organic soil, and peat moss. Popular chip type substrates include fir / orchid bark, cypress mulch, and coconut husk chips.
Do tortoises get lonely?
In the wild, tortoises live relatively solitary lives. … That means even very young tortoises naturally live on their own. It’s a comfort to know that pet tortoises probably won’t get lonely, but that doesn’t mean they can’t or shouldn’t live with a buddy.
Can I leave my tortoise outside at night?
In the spring and fall, when temperatures fall below 40ºF at night, a tortoise can be outdoors during the day but must be moved indoors at night to a special space you provide. In spring and fall, you will always need to keep a close eye on the weather.
Do tortoises eat flowers?
Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) flowers and leaves are nutritious favorites of many tortoises. … Its lilac blue flowers are relished by many tortoises. Chinese Lantern (Abutilon hybridum) has flowers which many tortoises find delectable.
What cactus do tortoises eat?
Planting Prickly Pear Pads for Tortoises. The preferred species is a spineless cactus, Opuntiaficus-indica, grown commercially for pads and fruit. Tortoises eat pads, flowers, and fruit.
Can tortoises eat antirrhinum?
There are no known hazards so the flowers and leaves are fine as part of a varied diet. Snapdragon flowers closely resemble those of Toadflax, which is toxic, so be sure of your identification before you offer this plant to your tortoise.
Can tortoises eat bananas?
Bananas can be eaten, and cherries, in strict moderation. Always remember to remove the cherry stone beforehand. These fruits should only be offered in moderation as part of a mixed diet to rainforest species such as the Red footed tortoise and Yellow footed tortoise.
Can tortoises eat gooseberries?
The fruit of the Gooseberry should never be fed unless your tortoise is one of the fruit-eating species. The flowers appear to be pink, but they are actually green and flushed with pink.
Can tortoises eat iceberg lettuce?
When dark greens and acceptable produce are offered, they should be clean, fresh, and chopped into pieces small enough for the tortoise to eat. Iceberg lettuce provides little nutrition and should be avoided entirely.
Can tortoises eat hydrangeas?
Common NameBotanical NameToxicityHeavenly BambooNandina domestica2HollyIlex species2HyacinthHyacinthus orientalis2HydrangeaHydrangea species2
Can tortoises eat creeping buttercup?
Creeping Buttercups are actually part of the diet of Hermanns tortoises in the wild. So it can be fed to tortoises, just not on a constant basis.
Can tortoises eat daisy flowers?
The Daisy contains saponins and tannins and therefore should not be offered as part of a tortoise diet, although it won’t harm if a few are discovered in the enclosure and the tortoise takes a nibble. The Daisy is also cultivated as a garden flower.
Can tortoises eat butterfly bush?
Fine to feed in moderation.
Can tortoise eat dandelions flowers?
Dandelions are a firm favourite with tortoises, and although they can be quite high in oxalates (with the older leaves having the highest content), and they also have mild diuretic properties, it is perfectly safe to feed them as part of a wider, varied diet.
Can tortoises eat mint?
These are fine to plant in the tortoise enclosure and will do no harm if nibbled, although some tortoises will be put off by the strong aroma.
Can tortoises eat raw broccoli?
Yes, broccoli is an excellent source of nutrition for tortoises. We highly recommend it as part of their regular diet. … Your tortoise should eat a variety of different veggies, fruits, leafy greens, and flowers. All these foods provide the nutrition that your pet needs.
Can tortoises have zucchini?
Courgette/zucchini can certainly be fed to your tortoise, but due to its low nutritional content, you need to vary your tortoise’s meals if you are going to include it. Mix this vegetable with other veggies and foods that do offer nutrition. You should not make courgette/zucchini the basis of the tortoise’s diet.
Can tortoises eat romaine lettuce?
The most important consideration in feeding a tortoise is to always offer a variety of greens, vegetables and fruits. … Dark, leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, collard, mustard and dandelion greens should make up the bulk of the diet.
Are foxgloves poisonous to tortoises?
Tortoises often don’t appear to know which foods are good to eat and which are not, and there is some evidence of tortoises dying after eating plants such as Buttercups, Daffodils and Foxgloves, which are considered poisonous. …
Can tortoises eat chrysanthemums?
The stems and leaves of Chrysanthemums can cause severe allergic reactions in cats. … coccineum) contain high levels of Pyrethrins which are used to make an insecticide that can be harmful to reptiles, so you should not feed those species of Chrysanthemum to your tortoise.
Is Wisteria poisonous to tortoises?
All parts of this plant are TOXIC as they contain wisterin, a glycoside, and a toxic resin.