Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know if clematis, passion vine or the like is safe with BTs? I want to put a trellis behind my enclosure, which backs up to my fence, and I want to grow a nice clematis or such on it to soften the fence and the enclosure and give some color to that area. But I can't find either way if flowering vines are safe or not with BTs. It wouldn't be in the enclosure, but I'm sure some flowers and leaves would fall in.

Also, if there are any gardening types out there, if you know a variety that does better in part shade (area only gets two or three hours of full sun in the mid-morning) than others, let me know. Thanks in advance.

Clematis is supposedly extremely irritating to skin and mucus membranes and in larger amounts can cause internal bleeding in the digestive tract - I'd definitely avoid having it around any pets.

Passion vine/flower - couldn't find anything about toxicity aside from references to "harman alkaloids" which can cause central nervous system issues and that the plant itself is used for analgesic, sedative, and causing spasms(?) in people.

I honestly cannot think of anything right offhand that would be safe and take or tolerate that lighting - a lot of vines tend to protect themselves by at least having high oxalates (as do plenty of plants), I think.

I happen to be a landscape designer by trade, and while not a bonafide horticulturalist, I can share a couple of thoughts.

Any time I add a new plant to the turtle pen here, I try to go with a native: I figure that if a plant occurs naturally within the turtle's range it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

There is a native Clematis that can handle some shade, it's called Clematis virginiana (see link): while it doesn't have the big showy flowers of some other Clematis cultivars, it is very pretty. The plant also has non-native lookalikes (C. ternifolia, and C. paniculata) both of which grow freely around here in central VA. In fact I used to have one growing in the turtle pen, and it was never an issue.
Link

Thanks. Do you think that clematis would still be OK for me even if it's not native to my area-Dallas? And would it be OK with three-toeds, or just easterns?

Here's another link that answers your question. There is also a C. texensis, with a red flower.
Link

Thanks a lot. You know, with you outing yourself as a landscape designer, you may get barraged with requests for suggestions.

What a great website! Tx steff! I've been looking for something like this for awhile. This will help a lot!

Oh, and about vines, be careful if it's growing on a chain link fence, or some other barrier with openings. The vines can help the turtles climb out of the enclosure!
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

StephF,

Is Baptisia australis (false blue indigo) safe? I read that it's native and it certainly looks like something a box turtle would encounter...

That one is a bit of a toss-up...it is native but it is also considered toxic to some mammals.

I wouldn't rule it out.

I guess I'll just use it on the outside of the pen then. Although, "some mammals" doesn't include reptiles, but I'll play it on the safe side.

here's things that I take into consideration... it's native to the range of the turtle, and turtles are known to eat plant and other matter that is poisonous/toxic to mammals (certain mushrooms, mayapples, etc.) without ill effect.