advice on safe plants for tortoises to eat in the garden?

[ardenttorpedo]

Hello everyone on The Tortoise Table,
I have just started raising a Hermann's tortoise and am trying to create a small garden with safe plants for the tortoise to eat and live comfortably. However, I am still quite confused about which plants are safe and which ones can be harmful. Can I grow herbs like basil, parsley or mint? Also, what about wild plants like dandelions or plantains? I hope that anyone with experience can advise me on a list of plants that are easy to grow, safe for tortoises and have nutritional value. Thank you very much!

[sofaclean]

Hi and welcome! It's great that you're putting so much thought into creating a safe and enriching space for your Hermann’s tortoise.

Herbs like basil, mint, and parsley are safe in moderation just be mindful not to overdo parsley as it’s high in oxalates. Wild plants like dandelions and plantains (Plantago spp.) are excellent staples tortoises love them and they’re very nutritious.

Some other easy-to-grow, tortoise-friendly plants include:
- Mulberry leaves
- Hibiscus (flowers and leaves)
- Grape leaves
- Clover
- Chickweed
- Nasturtiums

Just be sure everything you grow is free of pesticides and collected from clean areas. The Tortoise Table website is a fantastic resource you can search any plant and see if it’s safe.

Best of luck building your tortoise garden paradise!