Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

I'm just curious---was out today looking for tropical hibiscus to feed my torts for the season, when I came across a cold-hardy variant (Hibiscus syriacus), also commonly referred to as Rose of Sharon. Are this plant's leaves and flowers nutritious to torts, as the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis species are?

Thanks, and Best,

Tony

Tony,
I have four Rose of Sharons planted in my backyard. They put out lots of flowers for the later half of summer and into Fall.

My tortoises really like the flowers and leaves and I've heard they are good for torts.

Good luck,

John

I am pretty sure that Rose of Sharon bushes are in the same family as Hibiscus. We grow Hibiscus down here in south Florida and the tortoises love them.

I really do not know how it breaks down with a nutritional analysis. I feed it to my heard, the flowers especially are a hit, and some leaves also. The plant is hardy here in Northern California at 1000' elevation. It provides cover, is pleasing to my eye, so I recomend it as part of a varied diet, feeding it in moderation mixed with greens that I know to be nutritious with favorable Cah ratio, low protein etc. Other similar plants to consider are Lavatera (several different types, I do not know if this is a proper botanical name or a marketing name...)

n/p

...while they are a fav of da pyxis group...da rest of da star familiars seems look on...

>>I really do not know how it breaks down with a nutritional analysis. I feed it to my heard, the flowers especially are a hit, and some leaves also. The plant is hardy here in Northern California at 1000' elevation. It provides cover, is pleasing to my eye, so I recomend it as part of a varied diet, feeding it in moderation mixed with greens that I know to be nutritious with favorable Cah ratio, low protein etc. Other similar plants to consider are Lavatera (several different types, I do not know if this is a proper botanical name or a marketing name...)

...esp da red Hibiscus in Cairo, they consumed it daily as main part of da diet (Egyptian Gatorade!!!)...no wonder da Kleimannii such a sucker for da blue type because that's all what's left for them...so sad...

>>Tony,
>>I have four Rose of Sharons planted in my backyard. They put out lots of flowers for the later half of summer and into Fall.
>>
>>My tortoises really like the flowers and leaves and I've heard they are good for torts.
>>
>>Good luck,
>>
>>John