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Box Turtles & Tortoises Living in the Garden
Observations By Beverly Logan, GCTTS member
A 10 year study
Texas Native Trees
| Dwarf Palmetto | Sabal minor | |
| Desert Willow | Chilopsis linearis | * **** |
| Fringe Tree | Chionanthus virginica | |
| Parsley Hawthorn | Crataegus marshalli | ** **** |
| Red Mulberry | Morus rubra | *** **** |
| Redbud | Cercis texensis, pink, purple | **** |
| Mexican redbud | Cercis mexicana, deep pink | **** |
| Snow Drop Tree | Halesia diptera, white | |
| Snowbell | Styrax americanus, white | |
| Sweet Bay Magnolia | Magnolia virginiana, white | **** |
| Wax Myrtle | Myrica cerifera | |
Non native Trees
| Trident Maple | Acer buergerianum | **** |
| Profusion Crabapple | Malus profusion better performer | Mill Creek Farms |
Key
| * | Edible flower |
| ** | Edible fruit |
| *** | Edible fruit & leaves |
| **** | Leaf drop, for mulch in turtle habitat gardens, attracts live foods. |
Notes:
- Turtles benefit greatly from a natural leaf mulch in their habitat. The mulch provides habitat for food items for the turtles (insects, worms, etc.), helps soften the soil for egg laying and hibernation, and provides a cool place for them to rest during hot weather.
- Trees, shrubs, and small plants in these listings should be planted centrally in out door enclosure type turtle pens.
- Tree roots create more ground moisture, which is important for turtles and some tortoises.
- Box turtles and tortoises regulate their body temperature from the sun, and use shade for cooling. Box turtles and tortoises are visible when searching for food.
- Plants, trees, shrubs help camouflage turtles from predators and make secure places for all turtles, and tortoises.
- Vines are not recommended due to possible climbing and tangle problems.
Texas Native Shrubs
| Heartleaf hibiscus | Hibiscus martianus, red | * |
| Rockrose | Pavonia lasiopetala, pink | * |
| Violet ruellia | Ruellia nudiflora, purple | * |
| Yellow Bells | Tecoma stans, yellow | * |
| Prickley Pear cactus | Opunita, yellow | * ** *** |
| Switchgrass, Johnson grass | Panicum virgatum | * |
| Widow Tears | Commelina, blue | ** |
| Butterfly weed | Asclepias tuberose, yellow, orange | |
| American Beautyberry | Callicarpa americana, purple berry | * **** |
Non Native shrubs
| Giant Liriope | | Best liked box turtle plant-purple flowers & berries |
| Tropical Hibiscus | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, red | ** |
| | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, yellow (Eye Opener,butterfly) | ** |
| Texas native wild dandelions | yellow, blue flowers | ** |
Key
| * | flowers edible |
| ** | flowers & leaves edible |
| *** | fruit edible |
Plants for Outdoor Water Turtle Ponds
Texas Native Water Lilies
| | Nymphae odorata, white | * |
| | Nymphae mexicana, yellow | * |
Non native Water Plants
| Water poppy | Hydrocleys nymphoides, peruviana - yellow | * |
Native Texas Bog Plants
| Pickerelweed | Pontederia cordata, purple | * |
| Arrowhead | Sagittaria, white | |
| Zigzag Iris | Iris brevicaulis, purple with white | |
Non Native Bog Plants
| Umbrella palm, plant | Cyperus alternifolius | |
| Louisiana Swamp Iris | Iris Pseudacorus | yellow, red, purple, white, more. | |
Key
| * | All parts adult water turtle edible |
Notes:
- Provides shade, camouflage for all types, & depths of turtle ponds in the garden.
- Water plants provide shelter from turtle predators. Floating water plants provide basking spots, and attract live foods.
- For bog plants, plant in 8-12 inches water depth, or outside moist area next to in ground garden ponds.
Copyright (c) 2004 Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.
A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU
Free Documentation License".
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