Every owner wants to create a beautiful enclosure for their bearded dragon to enjoy. Plants are also a big part of the dragon’s enclosure. In this post, you will find a list of best safe plants for bearded dragon cage – both edible and for decor purposes. We will also cover which plants are not entirely toxic, but can cause adverse reactions if ingested.
Tips for adding plants in a bearded dragon’s tank
- Please note that it will be hard to keep plants in such hot and dry conditions, and not all plants will survive in the tank. So, avoid tropical plants, or you will need to raise humidity levels.
- Remove the plants for watering to avoid raising the humidity levels drastically in the tank.
- Also, most plants will be eaten or destroyed by your bearded dragon, so you might need to keep bringing a new plant. Or, choosing a new one that your dragon won’t destroy.
- Your bearded dragon will try to taste the plants when you introduce it in the tank out of curiosity. After some time, your dragon might leave the plant alone, so be patient.
- Make sure to wash the plant under running water thoroughly 2-3 times over few days before putting it in the tank. This is to remove any pesticides or other chemicals sprayed on the plant. Also because your bearded dragon is likely to eat them.
- The best thing is to have a plant that is fully edible in your bearded dragon’s tank. Almost every bearded dragon will attempt to eat a plant that you introduce in the tank.
- Choose a tall, deep and sturdy plant container so your dragon doesn’t knock it down. It will also be harder for your dragon to reach the soil.
- If your bearded dragon seems to eating the soil, you can cover it with a small hole cloth net or similar with the hole cut for the plant.
Number 1: Leatherleaf sedge, Red rooster grass, or Carex Buchananii
Carex Buchananii is truly a simple but beautiful grass plant that will add a desert atmosphere to your bearded dragon’s tank. Is it very low maintenance and easy to implement to your dragon’s tank. This grass will need a partial shade or full sun, and moist, but not wet soil.
Place in a middle or cool side of your bearded dragon’s cage. Leatherleaf sedge is not primarily edible, but your bearded dragon is not likely to eat it.
Number 2: Lithops, or living stones
Lithops, or living stones, are beautiful stone-like plants. Living stones/rocks are small, but are hardy plants that are excellent to decorate your dragon’s tank. You can buy the plants or seedlings like this and grow them yourself.
They don’t need much watering and will be ideal in any spot of the tank. Living stones also bloom once a year, after they are around 2-3 years old. Please make sure to learn more about their care.
You can read a full guide on lithops and how to care for them here.
Number 3: Nasturtium
Nasturtium is a genus of beautiful plants that are safe and non-toxic for your bearded dragon. What is more, they are edible plants! Your bearded dragon can snack on Nasturtium plants or have in the salad every other day.
You can grow nasturtiums in a pot, but your dragon is likely to snack on it. Nevertheless, nasturtiums make great decorative and edible plants in your bearded dragon’s tank.
Number 4: Hibiscus
Hibiscus are safe, non-toxic and actually staple edible plant for your bearded dragon. They are also beautiful. Make sure you use the big and sturdy pot to have your hibiscus. Otherwise, your dragon will break or knock it down easily.
Hibiscus is quite hardy and can survive heat. It need few hours of direct sunlight a day, and a moist, but well drained soil.
Number 5: Clover
Clover is a both non-toxic and edible plant for your bearded dragon. You can plant clover in a small pot and have in your dragon tank’s well lit area. Potted clover will need good watering and a bright spot in the cage.
They are easy to grow from seeds and your bearded dragon is likely to eat them anyways.
Number 6: Edible herbs
You can grow small pots with edible herbs in your bearded dragon’s tank. The choice is big – you can grow basil, mint (peppermint and spearmint), dill, oregano, cilantro, rosemary and thyme. Avoid parsley (high in oxalates) or chives (potentially toxic).
These herbs make a good snack and will will help keep your dragon’s tank fresh and smelling better! If you don’t want to grow any of them, you can buy small pots with growing herbs at stores for a very low price. And it won’t be expensive to replace, either. Beautiful and safe!
Number 7: Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is the fresh wheat plant leaves, that is also edible for your bearded dragon. You can grow wheatgrass in a pot. You can even get a sprouter like this, and sprout your own wheatgrass, pea shoots or alfalfa which is also a staple food.
Number 8: Lemon balm
Even though lemon balm is a herb in a mint family, it is separate on the list because your dragon is less likely to eat it. This is because lemon balm has a strong smell that doesn’t make it attractive for your dragon to eat.
It looks a lot like mint, but is more fragrant. Even though lemon balm is edible, you don’t need to feed the lemon balm to your dragon. Instead, leave it in the tank for a green look and a nice smell.
Number 9: Lettuce
Lettuces are not the best greens for your bearded dragon to eat frequently as a part of the diet. But you can grow you own lettuce in the tank, and let your dragon eat some while it’s there. You can choose a big range of lettuces to grow.
Number 10: Plastic plants
While fake plants will not smell or have a real look, they are still one of the plant options for bearded dragons. Fake plastic plants won’t need any maintenance, look realistic and can last long.
However, please be careful as your bearded dragon can chew on the fake plant and ingest small parts. This can in turn cause serious impaction.
If you would like to add plastic plants to decorate your bearded dragon’s tank, don’t choose ones with separate small details that your dragon can bite off.
For example, don’t get a foliage plant with multiple leaves. Also, don’t get a plant with multiple stems or leaves. The safest option would be a cactus like this or something similar.
Number 11: Collard greens
Collard greens and mustard greens are a staple diet greens that your bearded dragon can enjoy daily. You can grow these greens outside, and then bring in them in a pot inside of the tank.
Plants that are not toxic, but might be irritants
As discussed above, your bearded dragon is very likely to eat the plant that you put in the tank. And for this reason, you should generally avoid putting any non-edible plants in the tank.
While some ingestion will not do any harm, there are many species of plants in the single genus that have not been tested for toxicity in bearded dragons or reptiles in general.
You can try to introduce non-toxic plants if your bearded dragon doesn’t eat any other plants that you introduce in the tank or doesn’t seem interested in them. But most bearded dragon eat the plants, chew on them, and even lay or walk on them.
Below you will find a list of plants that might cause irritation or digestive upsets if ingested, even though they are considered safe plants for reptiles. Please be careful.
Spider plants
While generally safe, Spider plant’s sap might be an irritant. The sap might also irritate your dragon’s skin, mouth and eyes.
Plus they need slightly higher humidity, and their leaves will break easily under your dragon’s weight.
Snake plant
Snake plant is another non-toxic plant, however it will cause digestive upsets if ingested in bigger quantities. This is because snake plant, similarly to Aloe Vera, contains saponins. Saponins cause mouth and digestive tract damage in reptiles, including bearded dragons.
Aloe Vera
While Aloe Vera will be fine for bearded dragons that don’t eat the plant, it might cause digestive upsets if eaten. Aloe Vera is generally toxic to dogs and cats. This is because Aloe Vera has saponins, which cause appetite loss, damage to digestive tract, mouth and more.
The gel inside the Aloe Vera is not toxic, and is actually used for treating burns and cuts. The problem is with the latex under the leaves, and if you put the whole plant, your bearded dragon will bite on the whole leaves.
Haworthia
Haworthia is another safe plant to use in a bearded dragon’s tank. However, it is not edible. While your bearded dragon will be fine if it ingests some, you shouldn’t put it in the tank if your dragon tends to bite on the whole plant.
Hens and chicks (Sempervivum)
Hens and chicks are a part of genus Sempervivum, which includes more than 40 species of plants.
While in general they are safe to use in a bearded dragon’s tank, not all species have been determined to be safe for reptiles. Only put this plant if your bearded dragon doesn’t eat the plants.
Jade plant
While Jade plant is generally safe for reptiles, it is also mildly toxic. Jade plant is moderately to highly toxic to dogs and cats too.
It can cause digestive upsets, vomiting, and depression in cats & dogs. Avoid in the tank if your bearded dragon eats the plants.
Echeveria
Echeveria is a genus of plants that consists of approximately 150 species of various plants. While most Echeveria plants are non-toxic, not all of them have been tested to be safe for small animals, including reptiles. Some are mildly toxic, so it would be better no to take the chance.
Please remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Introduce plants that your bearded dragon can eat, and ones that are quite nutritious. Decorative plants are likely to be destroyed anyways, and might require plant lights to survive.