Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to build an outdoor enclosure for my boxies and I was wondering what kind of plants would work for shade and edibility? I want some kind of bush or something that doesn't get too big but would provide great shade for them. Thanks

Rachel

Plants that might thrive in one part of the country won't necessarily do well in another. Are you hoping to create shade, or do you have shade already and want plants that will grow in it?

What part of the country do you live in, and what kind of box turtle do you have?

I know, more questions...

Oh, just make it more difficult for me

I live in Texas, and they are both ornate box turtles... The place I want them to live in is very sunny and I just need something that will provide a lot of shade for them

Hostas are great and will attract snails and other bugs.

Thank you! Are they fairly easy to keep alive?

What part of Texas are you in? East, west, south, north?
It's such a huge state! What grows well in Houston won't necessarily fare as well on the west side of the state.
Where I live Oleander does well but it so poisonous I won't have it on my property.
Purple sage does very well though without much effort but my hibiscus dropped dead when it got too chilly one night.

Some flowers provide a lot of shade. I can grow large 4 O'clocks with no effort but I can't keep a marigold from drying up & dropping dead. Because 4 O'clocks are poisonous, I had to yank all of them up when we got our plant eating tortoise.
Talking to someone at a local plant nursery might be helpful for you.. maybe... it hasn't helped us. We've been given advice before at a local nursery but all of it was wrong. lol
Good luck with this project.
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PHRatz

I live in Fort Worth... so north Texas.

I already taked to someone at a plant nursery and they recommended Oleander (what a mistake!!!). I totally almost bought it, too, but my uncle told me it was very toxic. I know almost nothing about plants, except for how to care for them. So, of course, I had no idea.

Purple sage might be great. Thanks!
Rachel

Common fig (ficus carica), blueberry (vaccinum angustifolium), cranberrybush viburnum (viburnum trilobum), or elderberry (sambucus) would all probably work in your area.

You can also try native grasses, like little blue stem, indian grass, prairie dropseed, or switch grass.

Hostas really are a shade loving plant, and don't do so well in a sunny location: the varieties that have golden green foliage are better suited to cope with full sun.

Consider also inkberry, aka inkberry holly (ilex glabra): its a nice evergreen native plant, doesn't have sharp foliage like most hollies, takes full sun, will provide shade.

If Mulberry trees grow in TX I would recommend it. They do grow in NJ and they provide both shade and the turtles love to eat the mulberries when they fall to the ground.
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Jack

Yup, mulberry trees would work, too. Keep in mind that they are a non-native, invasive species, though, and have a tendency to multiply rapidly and are difficult to eradicate.
The berries have cathartic properties too, so birds can leave messy stains all over everything.

Thanks for all your help guys... I appreciate it

I'll take a pic when the enclosure is finished so you can take a look... thanks again!

Rachel

We have mulberry coming out the wazoo in west TX. They take quite a long while to grow but the berries are a great box turtle food.
The purple sage grow much quicker, not sure they're going to fare so well in the north because they are more of a desert species... however, I know people in Hill country who have them, there's more moisture for them in that area so the higher humitidy may be helpful for them if you're looking for shady spots right away.. the turtles don't eat it so it's nothing to worry about on that front.
Honeysuckle, I'd forgotten about that because mine died. My boxies used to go straight to it because it was a nice shady plant for them & it's not toxic. You might think about that because in the northern part of the state it's going to thrive.
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PHRatz