Edible Plants and Weeds for Tortoises & Land Turtles

This is a list of a variety of different plants, both cultivated and wild, that tortoises and land turtles can eat. Please understand that individual animal taste preferences may vary. 

 

 

Plant Name

Scientific Name

Plant Type

Edible Parts
Agave Agave sp. Succulent Entire Plant
Alfalfa Medicago sativia Common Weeds Entire Plant
Aloe Aloe sp.  Succulent Entire Plant
Alyssum , Sweet Lobularia maritima Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Arizona Cottontop Grass Digitaria sp. Grasses Entire Plant
Arugula Eruca sativa Herbs Leaves, Flowers
Asperagus Fern Asperagus setaceus & plumosis Ferns Leaves
Aster Aster sp.  Cultivated Plants Leaves
Baby's tears, Irish Moss Soleirolia soleirolii Cultivated Plants Leaves
Bamboo Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia dumosa Grasses Entire Plant
Banana Musa sp.  Tree/Shrub leaves, fruit
Barnyardgrass Echinochloa crus & galli Grasses Leaves
Basil Ocimum basilicum Herbs Leaves
Begonias Begonia sp.  Succulent Leaves, flowers
Bentgrasses Agrostis sp.  Grasses Leaves
Bermuda Cynodon dactylon Grasses Leaves
Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardi Grasses Leaves
Bindweed  Convolvulus sp. & Calystegia sp. Common Weeds Leaves
Birds Nests Fern Asplenium nidus Cultivated Plants Leaves
Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Common Weeds Leaves
Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta & flexuosa Common Weeds Leaves
Black mustard Brassica Nigra Common Weeds Entire Plant
Blessed Thistle Cnicus benedictus Common Weeds Leaves
Blue grama grass Bouteloua gracilis Grasses Leaves
Bluedicks Dichelostemma pulchellum Desert Wildflower  
Bluegrass, annual Poa annua  Grasses  
Boston Fern Nephrolepsis exalta Ferns  
Bottle Brush Callistemon  Cultivated Plants  
Bouganvillea  Bouganvillea sp.  Cultivated Plants  
Bromeliads Family Bromeliaceae  Cultivated Plants  
Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum Common Weeds  
Buffalo grass Stenotaphrum secondatum Grasses  
Buffelgrass Cenchrus ciliaris Grasses  
Bugleweed Ajuga reptans Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Butterfly Bush Buddleja sp. Common Weeds  
California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum Tree/Shrub  
California Filago Filago californica Common Weeds  
Canarygrass, littleseed  Phalaris minor  Grasses  
Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus Cultivated Plants  
Cassia Senna sp. Trees/Shrubs Entire Plant
Cat's ears  Hypochoeris  sp. Common Weeds  
Cattle Spinach Atriplex polycarpa Tree/Shrub  
Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile Cultivated Plants Flowers
Chickweed Cerastium vulgatum & arvense Common Weeds  
Chicory Cichorium sp. Common Weeds Flowers, Leaves, Roots
Chinese Lantern Abutilon hybridum Cultivated Plants Flowers
Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum sp. Cultivated Plants Flowers
Chufa, or Yellow Nut Grass   Cyperus esculentus Grasses  
Cinnamon fern Osumunda cinnamomea Ferns  
Climbing Nasturtium, Garden Nasturium, Indian Cress Tropaeolum majus Vines  
Clover  Trifolium repens & pratense Common Weeds  
Coleus Coleus sp.  Cultivated Plants  
Common greenbrier, Catbrier Silax roundfolia & sp. Common Weeds  
Common Sorrel Rumex sp. & Oxalis sp. Common Weeds  
Coneflower (purple)  Echinacea sp. (Rudbeckia)  Common Weeds  
Coreopsis Coreopsis giganta & tinctoria & atkinsoniana & calliopsidea Cultivated Plants Leaves, flowers
Corn Plant Dracaena fragrans Cultivated Plants  
Cornflower or Bachelor's Buttons Plagiobothrys sp. Cultivated Plants Leaves, flowers
Cotyledon orbiculata Family Crassulaceae, Cotyledon orbiculata Common Weeds Flowers, Leaves
Couchgrass Agropyon repens Grasses  
Crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis  Grasses  
Creeping Bell Campanula rapunculoides  Common Weeds Flower
Creeping Charlie Pilea nummulariifolia Vines  
Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummlaria Vines  
Curly Mesquite Grass Hilaria belangeri Grasses Entire Plant
Dahlia Dahlia pinnata & rosea Cultivated Plants  
Daisy, English Bellis perennis Cultivated Plants/Common Weeds flowers
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale,  Agoseris aurantiaca Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers, Roots
Day Lilies (NOT Easter or Tiger Lilies!) Hemerocallis sp.  Cultivated Plants  
Dayflower Commelina diffusa Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Deadnettle, Red or Purple Lamium purpurem  Common Weeds  
Deer Grass Muhlenbergia rigens Grasses Entire Plant
Desert Dandelion Malacothrix glabrata Common Weed  
Desert Four-O'Clock Mirabelis spectabalis Desert Wildflower Entire Plant
Desert Rose Adenium obesum Succulent  
Dichondra, Wonderlawn Dichondra repens Cultivated Plants/Common Weeds leaves, flowers
Dock Rumex sp.  Common Weeds Flowers, Leaves, Roots
Echinacea  Echinacea sp. Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Endives Cichorium sp.  Common Weeds  
Evening Primrose Oenothera biensis Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Evening Primrose, Cut-leaved  Oenothera laciniata  Common Weeds  
Fennel Foeniculum sp. Herbs  
Fern Acacia Acacia angustissima Trees/Shrubs Flowers
Fescue, Blue Festuca glauca Grasses  
Fescue, Tall Festuca arundinacea  Grasses  
Field mustard Brassica rapa Common Weeds Entire Plant
Fig Tree Moraceae Tree/Shrub leaves, fruit
Filaree Erodium cicutarium Common Weeds  
Flowering Maple Abutilon sp. Succulent all
Forsythia Forsythia sp.  Tree/Shrub  
Fuschia Fuschia sp. Cultivated Plants  
Gazania Gazania sp. Cultivated Plants leaves, flowres
Geranium Pelargonium sp. Cultivated Plants leaves, flowers
German chamomile Matricaria chamomilla Cultivated Plants Flowers
Globe Mallows Sphaeralcea sp. Common Weeds Entire Plant
Goat Head Tribulus terrestris Common Weed  
Golden bamboo or fishpole bamboo Phyllostachys aurea Tree/Shrub  
Goosegrass Eleusine indica  Grasses  
Grape Vine Family Vitaceae & Berberidaceae Cultivated Plants/Vines leaves, fruit, Flowers
Ground ivy Glechoma hederacea Vines  
Guava Tree Psidium guajava Tree/Shrub Leaves
Hawkbits Leontodon ssp Common Weeds  
Hawk's Beards Crepis biennis & capilallaris Common Weeds  
Haworthia reinwardtii Haworthia reinwardtii Succulent  
Heather Ericaceae Tree/Shrub leaves, flowers
Hen and Chicks Echeveria sp. Succulent all
Hen and Chicks , Houseleeks Sempervivum sp.  Succulent leaves, flowers
Henbit Lamium amplexicaule  Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Hibiscus Hibicus rosa & sinensis & syriacus Tree/Shrub Leaves, Flowers
Hollyhock Alcea rosea Cultivated Plants flowers
Honesty Lunaria annua Common Weeds Root, Seed
Honeysuckle Lonicera interrupta & japonica & periclymenum & caprifolium Common Weeds/Vines Leaves, Flowers
Honeysuckle, Desert Anisacanthus thurberi Desert Wildflower Entire Plant
Hosta Hosta sp. Cultivated Plants leaves, flowers
Ice plants Mesembryanthemaceae family Succulent  
Impatiens Impatiens glandulifera Cultivated Plants leaves, flowers, seeds
Indian Ricegrass Oryzopsis hymenoides Grasses  
Jasmine Jasminum officinale & grandifloum Cultivated Plants  
Johnny-Jump-Up Viola tricolor Cultivated Plants  
Kalanchoe sp. Kalanchoe sp. Succulent  
Kale Brassica oleracea Cultivated Plants  
Kikuyugrass Pennisetum clandestinum  Grasses  
Kleingrass Panicum coloratum Grasses  
Knotweed Polygonum spp. Common Weeds  
Kudzu Puerar lobata Common Weeds/Vines Leaves, Flowers
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia & labiatae Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Lilac Syringa vulgaris Cultivated Plants  
Link & Otto Tradescantia crassula Succulent  
Live Forever Sedum purpureum Succulent  
Loquat bush Eriobotrya japonica Tree/Shrub  
Mallow Malva sylrestris &  rotundifolia & neglecta & moschata Cultivated Plants/Common Weeds Leaves, Roots, Seeds
Mallow, Desert Sphaeralcea ambigua Desert Wildflower  
Maple Acer saccharum Tree/Shrub  
Marigold Tagetes sp.  Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Milk Thistle Silybum marianum Common Weeds  
Mimosa Desmanthus illinoensis Tree/Shrub  
Mojave Aster Machaeranthera tortifolia Desert Wildflower  
Monkey Plant Ruellia makoyana Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Moon Flower Impomoiea alba & leptophylla Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Morning Glory Family Convolvulaceae Desert Wildflower Entire Plant
Moss Roses, Purselane Portulaca sp. Succulent  
Mother of Pearl Graptopetalum paraguayen Cultivated Plants  
Muhly Sporobolus asperifolius Tree/Shrub  
Mulberry Tree Morus alba & nigra Tree/Shrub Leaves, Fruit
Mustard Sisymbrium officinale, Brassica sp. Common Weeds  
Napiergrass Pennisetum purpureum Grasses  
Nasturtiums Nasturtium sp.  Cultivated Plants  
Nasturtiums Tropaeolum majus Cultivated Plants  
Needlegrass, desert Stipa speciosa Grasses  
Nettle, Stinging Urtica dioica Common Weeds  
Nipplewort Lapsana communis Common Weeds  
Oatgrass Arrhenatherum sp.  Grasses  
Orchard grass Dactylis glomerata  Grasses  
Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris Ferns  
Owl's Clover, Pink-Brush Orthocarpus purpurascens Common Weed  
Pampasgrass  Cortaderia selloana Grasses  
Pangolagrass Digitaria decumbens Grasses  
Pansy Viola sp.  Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera Tree/Shrub  
Pearl Millet Pennisetum glaucum Grasses  
Pennywort Cotyledon umbilicus & veneris Common Weeds  
Peppergrass Lepidium spp. Grasses  
Persimmon Diospyros texanum & virginiana Common Weeds  
Petunias Petunia sp. Cultivated Plants  
Phlox Phlox paniculata Cultivated Plants  
Pigweed Amaranthus sp.  Common Weeds  
Pineapple Guava Feijoa sellowiana Cultivated Plants  
Pink Perslane Montia sibirica Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Plantains Plantago major & media & lanceotata  Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Poppy, California Eschscholzia californica Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Poppy, Welsh Meconopsis cambrica Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Pothos Epipremnum aureum Cultivated Plants Leaves
Poverty Weed Monolepis nuttallia, Iva axillaris Common Weeds Entire Plant
Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola  Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia sp.  Succulent Entire Plant
Primrose Primula vulgaris Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Purslane Portulaca oleracea Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Quackgrass Agropyron repens Grasses Leaves, Flowers
Quick Weed Galinsoga sp. Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Raspberry,  Blackberry Rubus sp.  Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers, Fruit
Red Maids Calandrinia ciliata  Common Weeds  
Rose Rosa sp. Cultivated Plants Flowers
Rosemary Rosamarinus sp.  Herbs Leaves, Flowers
Russian Thistle or prickly saltwort Salsola kali Tree/Shrub Leaves, Flowers
Rye Secale cereale Grasses Leaves
Sage Salvia sp. Tree/Shrub/Herbs Leaves, Flowers
Sainfoin Onobrychis sativa  Common Weeds  
Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor Common Weeds  
Sea Grape Coccoloba uvifera Tree/Shrub  
Senna, Desert Cassia covesii Trees/Shrubs Entire Plant
Sesame grass Tripsacum dactyloides Grasses  
Shepard's purse Capsella bursa & pastorsis  Common Weeds  
Slime Lilies Albuca sp. Succulent  
Sow Thistle Sonchus oleraceus & arvensis Common Weeds  
Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Spiderwort Tradescantia pinetorum & occidentalis Succulent  
Spurges Euphorbia sp. Common Weeds Entire Plant
St. Augustine, Charleston grass Stenotaphrum secundatum Grasses  
St. Johns Wort Hypericum sp. Common Weeds Leaves
Staghorn Fern Platycerium bifurcatum Ferns Leaves, Flowers
Sticky Monkey Flower Mimulus aurantiacus Succulent  
Stonecrops Sedum sp. Succulent  
Strawberries, domestic Fragaria × ananassa Cultivated Plants  
Strawberry, wild Fragaria vesca Common Weeds  
Swedish Ivy Plectranthus australis Cultivated Plants/Vines Leaves, Flowers
Sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum Grasses  
Tea Tree Leptospermum scoparium Tree/Shrub Leaves, Flowers
Timothy Phleum pratense  Grasses  
Tree Fern Dicksonia antartica Ferns  
Tree houseleek Aeonium sp. Succulent all
Umbrella Plant Darmera peltata / Petasites hyrbridus Cultivated Plants  
Vetch - Bush, Common, Tufted Vicia sepium & sativa & cracca Common Weeds  
Violets Viola sp.  Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers
Wandering Jew Tradescantia albiflora Succulent/Vines Leaves, Flowers
Watercress Family Cruicerae Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Weeping lovegrass  Eragrostis curvula Grasses  
Whispering Bells Emmenanthe penduliflora Cultivated Plants  
White Tidy-Ups Layia glandulosa Common Weeds  
Wild Carrot Daucus carota Common Weeds Leaves, Roots
Wild muscadine Vitis rotundifolia Vines Leaves, Flowers
Wild Oats Avena fatua  Grasses  
Willow Family Salicaceae  Tree/Shrub  
Willow, Desert Chilopsis linearis Trees/Shrubs Flowers
Wintercress Barbarea vulgarsis  Common Weeds Leaves. Flowers
Witchgrass Panicum capillare Grasses  
Yallow Achellea millefolium  Common Weeds Leaves, Flowers
Yucca Yucca sp.  Succulent  
Zinnia Zinnia sp. Cultivated Plants Leaves, Flowers