Plants can be a great addition to your bearded dragon enclosure, but we just have to be sure we know which plants are safe plants for bearded dragons to eat. There are a lot of different plants that bearded dragons can eat, and understanding which plants are safe can help us provide our bearded dragons with a balanced diet and a happier home.
While bearded dragons do eat plants, it’s also important to feed bearded dragons a variety of insects. Insects provide protein and nutrition and should make up a large portion of a bearded dragon’s diet. Examples of safe insects for bearded dragons include crickets, mealworms, and waxworms.
Is it okay to keep live plants in a bearded dragon tank?
Yes, it is possible to keep live plants in a bearded dragon tank, but you need to make sure that the plants you choose are safe for your bearded dragon and that you maintain the tank properly. Live, non-toxic plants can help mimic your bearded dragon’s natural habitat, but they can be messy to maintain and a little complicated to keep healthy. It might be worth it though because it will help your beardie thrive!
Bearded dragons tend to dig and chew, so you need to choose plants that are safe for them to eat. You should also avoid using soil that may contain parasites or bacteria, and use a substrate that is easy to clean and maintain. Additionally, you should avoid using any fertilizers that may be toxic to your dragon. Also, make sure your bearded dragon has enough space to move around. Avoid crowding your pet’s enclosure too much.
Risk vs reward of live plants in your bearded dragon’s tank
Should you just feed your bearded dragon safe plants or should you also add them to your bearded dragon’s enclosure? Well, that’s up to you. There are safe options for edible plants, but what are the downsides? Let’s look a the risk versus the rewards.
Risk:
- Live plants may introduce parasites or bacteria to the tank that could be harmful to the bearded dragon.
- Live plants may require more maintenance than fake plants and may need to be replaced more often.
- Certain plants may be toxic to bearded dragons if ingested, so it is important to research plants that are safe for your pet.
Reward:
- Live plants can provide a comfortable environment for your bearded dragon and can help to create a natural habitat.
- They can be a great option for increasing humidity levels in the tank, which can be beneficial for the health of your bearded dragon.
- They’re a great way to help to filter the air in bearded dragon habitats, improving air quality and reducing the number of toxins in the air.
Fake plants may be better options in a bearded dragon’s habitat, or a combination of both live and artificial plants may be the best thing. That way your beardie has hiding places and it feels more like a natural environment, but it’s more low maintenance for bearded dragon owners.
Safe plants for bearded dragons to eat
There are a lot of plants that are safe for breaded dragons to eat. This safe plants list contains flowers, leafy greens, and herb plants, but it’s not exhaustive.
- Air plants
- Alfalfa
- Aloe plants
- Arugula
- Astilbe
- Baby’s tears
- Basil
- Borage
- Carnations
- Chinese lantern
- Clover
- Collard greens
- Coriander
- Dahlia
- Dandelion Greens
- Day lilies
- Dwarf jade plants
- Echeveria plants
- Fennel
- Ficus benjamina
- Haworthia plants
- Hibiscus
- Hollyhock
- Lavender
- Lemon balm
- Lemon grass
- Mequite leaves
- Mint leaves
- Mulberry leaves
- Mustard greens
- Nasturtium
- Oregano
- Pansies
- Petunia
- Phlox
- Prickly pear cactus
- Rose petals
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Tillandsia ionantha
- Turnip greens
- Watercress
- Yucca
Toxic plants for bearded dragons
This list of plants includes plants that will cause health problems or are toxic to bearded dragons. These shouldn’t be fed to or used an ornamental plants in your bearded dragon terrarium.
- Acocanthera
- Amaryllis
- Angel’s trumpet
- Azalea
- Bittersweet
- Black locust
- Boxwood
- Braken fern
- Buckthorn
- Burdock
- Buttercup
- Caladium
- Calla lily
- Catclaw acacia
- Caster bean
- Chinaberry
- Clematis
- Coral Plant
- Crocus
- Daphne
- Death camas
- Delphinium
- Dieffenbachia
- Elderberry
- Elephant’s ears
- Euonymus
- Europeon pennyroyal
- Four o’clock
- Heliotrope
- Henbane
- Holly
- Horse chestnut
- Horse nettle
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea
- Iris
- Ivy
- Jack-in-the-pulpit
- Jerusalem cherry
- Jonquil
- Juniper
- Lantana
- Larkspur
- Laurel
- Lily-of-the-valley
- Lobella
- Mistletoe
- Mock orange
- Monkshood
- Moonseed
- Morning glory
- Narcissus
- Oak
- Oleander
- Peony
- Periwinkle
- Peyote
- Philodendron
- Poison hemlock
- Poison ivy
- Poison oak
- Poison sumac
- Poinsettia
- Pokeweed
- Poppy
- Primrose
- Privet
- Ragwort
- Red maple
- Rhododendron
- Rosary pea
- Shamrock plant
- Skunk cabbage
- Snake plant
- Snowdrop
- Sorrel
- Spider plants
- Spurges
- Star of Bethlehem
- Sweet pea
- TobaccoTulip
- Virginia creeper
- Vetches
- Water hemlock
- Waxberry
- Wild daffodil
- Wisteria
- Yew
It’s always a good idea to look into individual plants extensively before giving your beardie access to them. There are some plants that have berries that are safe for beardies but the leaves are toxic. There may be many different plants like this, so make sure to do your research!