large leaf plants that are ok for a sulcata outdoor enclosure
- Thread starter john p
- Start date
mulberry trees work well
A woody hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus) is a tortoise treat that should provide a bit of shade once it's large enough.
What part of the country are you in?
Hibiscus work well in the warmer areas. Rose of sharon in the colder areas. I like lavatera, and I'll vote for fruitless mulberry trees too.
Sue Ann
Well-Known Member
Dexter loves hiding under his hibiscus
You can find some species of Hosta that have monstrous leaves. Good for both shade & nibbling.
The Empress Wu have better reviews than the Kingsize
Check them out
✅ https://www.brecks.com/product/kingsize-hosta
✅ https://plantaddicts.com/shadowland-empress-wu-hosta
Kudos to Brecks for the pix
The Empress Wu have better reviews than the Kingsize
Check them out
✅ https://www.brecks.com/product/kingsize-hosta
✅ https://plantaddicts.com/shadowland-empress-wu-hosta
Kudos to Brecks for the pix
Last edited:
Mail order ??
Banana trees are edible and provide a bit of shade. I have a big pineapple guava shrub in my sulcata yard. It's his favorite place to shelter out of the hot afternoon sun:
Aaagh yes,, @Yvonne G is right! i forgot about our banana tree! The good thing about banana is they grow quickly & you can either plant it in the ground or for the first few years in larger pots. Once it outgrows the pots depending on hardy or not and ur zone, you can plant right in the ground.
Mine are in very large 90 gallon containers & put up massive leaves that provide shade & are edible (safe).
Mine are in very large 90 gallon containers & put up massive leaves that provide shade & are edible (safe).
Remember that any reachable plant will be trampled, eaten or somehow destroyed by a sulcata. What I do is plant my plant, and then encircle it with two or three rows of cinder block. You could also stick pressure treated 4x4s in the ground and attach boards to those to make a wooden barrier around the new plants.
Here are a few more shrubs and trees, courtesy of The Tortoise Table:
Abutilon (Abutilon spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=32&c=4
Elm (Ulmus spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=755&c=4#.XsB1kWhKiUk
Lavatera / Tree Mallow (Lavatera spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=217&c=4#.XsB1-2hKiUk
Lilac (Syringa spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=221&c=4#.XsB2MWhKiUk
Spiraea / Steeplebush (Spiraea spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=292&c=4#.XsB06WhKiUk
Abutilon (Abutilon spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=32&c=4
Elm (Ulmus spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=755&c=4#.XsB1kWhKiUk
Lavatera / Tree Mallow (Lavatera spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=217&c=4#.XsB1-2hKiUk
Lilac (Syringa spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=221&c=4#.XsB2MWhKiUk
Spiraea / Steeplebush (Spiraea spp.): https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=292&c=4#.XsB06WhKiUk
Sue Ann
Well-Known Member
A tort and his kitty ?
Sue Ann
Well-Known Member
I just purchased 2 for Dexter ?
Sue Ann
Well-Known Member
Tom I ordered a fruited mulberry tree!
