There are many reptile-safe plants that can be used in reptile habitats. Reptiles are some of the most popular pets in the world. They’re interesting to watch, and they can be easy to take care of if you know what you’re doing. If you’re thinking about getting a reptile, or if you already have one and want to make sure it’s living in a safe environment, then this list is for you.
We’ve collected 25 plants that are commonly considered safe for reptiles. We’ve also included a few tips on how to create a reptile-safe environment for your pet. So whether you’re just starting out with reptile ownership or you’re looking for ways to make your current setup safer, we hope this list will be helpful.
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25 Reptile Safe Plants
Nontoxic plants that reptile owners commonly use in their reptile cages include:
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Aloe Plant:
- 2 2. Amaryllis:
- 3 3. Anthurium:
- 4 4. Ardisia:
- 5 5. Asparagus Fern:
- 6 6. Baby Tears:
- 7 7. Baby’s Tears:
- 8 8. Balloon Flower:
- 9 9. Banana Plant:
- 10 10. Begonia:
- 11 11. Bird’s Nest Fern:
- 12 12. Burro’s Tail:
- 13 13. Caladium:
- 14 14. Canna:
- 15 15. Cast Iron Plant:
- 16 16. Dwarf Date Palm:
- 17 17. Elephant Ears:
- 18 18. Miniature Pine:
- 19 19. Money Tree:
- 20 20. Pigmy Date Palm:
- 21 21. Pothos:
- 22 22. Sago Palm:
- 23 23. Schefflera:
- 24 24. String Of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus):
- 25 25. Zebra Plant (Calathea zebrina):
- 26 Final Words – Reptile Safe Plants
1. Aloe Plant:
This succulent is great for your reptile and you because it’s a natural way to soothe burned skin. It also provides them with water if they should need it during the night when you cannot provide fresh water. They can be found at most garden supply centers.
2. Amaryllis:
This plant usually blooms during the winter, which makes it a nice addition to reptile enclosures. The bulb might attract your pet lizard to try eating it, but this plant is non-toxic and easy to keep alive even if they do eat some of it.
3. Anthurium:
This is another decorative plant that can help you brighten up your reptile’s habitat. It contains calcium oxalates, which your reptile might try to eat if it starts poking around the flowers and leaves of this plant, but its toxicity levels are low enough for most reptiles to be fine with eating the plant in small amounts.
4. Ardisia:
If you want a vine or climbing reptile plant to cover up unsightly grates or reptile wires, then Ardisia might be what you’re looking for because many lizards like climbing through it (and they can even eat some of it).
5. Asparagus Fern:
This fern isn’t toxic to reptiles, so it’s a great reptile plant to add to your reptile cage. It’s safe for pet lizards and bearded dragons, and they often enjoy munching on the lower parts of the stem.
6. Baby Tears:
Although this might be considered reptile carpet or reptile moss, some owners use it as reptile substrate because many reptiles like to snuggle in between the tiny leaves of the plant. Just make sure you avoid any pesticides and fertilizers when you’re growing your own soil mix at home; for most types of reptile cages, using reptile-safe topsoil is recommended instead of buying store-bought soil mixes that can be very bad for reptiles if they ingest too much of it. In the case of reptile cages that require reptile substrate, reptile-safe topsoil is recommended.
7. Baby’s Tears:
This plant might be considered reptile carpet or reptile moss since some owners use it as reptile substrate since many reptiles like to snuggle in between the tiny leaves of this plant. Make sure you avoid any pesticides and fertilizers when you’re growing your own soil mix at home; for most types of reptile cages, using reptile-safe topsoil is recommended instead of buying store-bought soil mixes that can be very bad for reptiles if they ingest too much it. In the case of reptile cages that require reptile substrate, reptile-safe topsoil is recommended.
8. Balloon Flower:
This type of reptile plant is also known as Platycodon grandiflorus, and it’s safe to have in your reptile habitat because you can feed it to your reptile without much worry about their health. While many reptile owners believe that this plant is toxic, the leaves are considered non-toxic when ingested by reptiles—and they even provide a source of food for some types of lizards.
9. Banana Plant:
The inside pulp of this reptile plant is nontoxic to reptiles–which means you can give them part or all of the plant if you want them to find a new home for it in their reptile habitat! The “peel” layer might be harmful to your reptile, though, so make sure you don’t give them the peel.
10. Begonia:
Begonias are great reptile plants because they’re easy to grow and look nice in reptile enclosures. Just be careful when growing begonias in reptile habitats that the pet lizards or turtles don’t try eating any parts of this plant since it can do damage to their digestive system–and after all, you wouldn’t want them to ingest any pesticides or fertilizers that might have been used when growing it!
11. Bird’s Nest Fern:
If your reptile is an arboreal species (or one who likes climbing), chances are excellent that he’ll enjoy spending time inside this reptile plant for climbing. Just be careful when growing it in reptile habitats that your reptile doesn’t try eating any parts of this plant since the leaves are considered toxic to reptiles.
12. Burro’s Tail:
This reptile plant is another great one for reptile cages because you can use reptile-safe topsoil to allow your reptile to burrow inside it and enjoy a nice place to sleep while they’re snuggled between the leaves of the plant! Just make sure there aren’t any pesticides or fertilizers mixed into the soil before letting your reptile “go wild” inside their new reptile habitat!
13. Caladium:
The classic “elephant ear” type red, pink, white, or even green reptile plant is known as Caladium, and it’s very common in reptile habitats since its leaves are considered not only non-toxic but also reptile safe plants–which means you can leave it in their reptile habitat without worrying about them ingesting any of the parts. Try placing this plant at the top of your reptile cage; reptiles will often prefer to bask under or near a nice piece of reptile furniture like this one!
14. Canna:
Although many reptile owners worry that this might be toxic for their pet lizard or turtle, there’s no need to fear if you’re growing it within proper conditions. The inside pulp is nontoxic when ingested by reptiles–so free to feed some of the plant to your reptile if you want them to make it a home in their reptile habitat!
15. Cast Iron Plant:
The “cast iron” reptile plant is a great one for reptile cages because the inside leaves are considered non-toxic when ingested by reptiles. This means that they can use this reptile houseplant as a source of food or to just play around with since it’s very safe–plus, many reptile owners even claim that adding this type of reptile plant into their reptile habitat has made their pet reptiles more active than before!
16. Dwarf Date Palm:
This popular reptile plant is also known as Rhapidophyllum hystrix, and it’s considered both nontoxic and reptile safe plants–which means it’s perfectly safe for them to ingest parts of the plant or use it as a reptile habitat decoration. Just remember that this type of reptile houseplant is very poisonous when ingested by dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals–so make sure you keep it away from your pets if they happen to be around!
17. Elephant Ears:
There are many types of reptile plants known as “elephant ears” (like Colocasia), but all of them are considered non-toxic when ingested by reptiles like lizards, turtles, tortoises, and even iguanas! So feel free to give them some parts of this reptile plant; just remember that they might end up using it as reptile habitats and/or decor, too! Keep in mind that the plant won’t grow as tall if you’re growing them inside reptile habitats, but they’ll certainly make great reptile plants for climbing.
18. Miniature Pine:
The miniature pine (also known as Pinus parviflora) is one reptile plant that’s actually considered poisonous to some animals like cats, dogs, and horses–but not reptiles! So feel free to give this reptile houseplant to your reptile pet without worrying about him or her ingesting any parts of the “miniature” reptile plant.
19. Money Tree:
A common name for a type of small evergreen tree known as Pachira aquatic, this reptile plant is actually poisonous to dogs and cats–but safe for reptiles! If you’re looking for reptile plants that are reptile safe plants, look no further than the money tree (or “Malabar chestnut”, as it’s also known) since all parts of the plant are considered non-toxic when ingested by common types of lizards like iguanas, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, turtles like red-eared sliders or painted turtles, and even box turtles.
20. Pigmy Date Palm:
Although it got its name from having smaller leaves than other types of reptile plants known as date palms (like the desert palm), this reptile houseplant isn’t just small when it comes to its reptile-friendly size! All parts of this reptile plant–including the inside leaves and branches–are considered nontoxic when ingested by reptiles like lizards, turtles, tortoises, and even iguanas. Just keep in mind that fruit from this reptile plant can be toxic if ingested by household pets like dogs and cats!
21. Pothos:
This reptile houseplant is actually a type of evergreen vine known as Epipremnum pinnatum, and the inside parts of it are non-toxic when ingested by most types of lizards (like bearded dragons) and other reptile pets such as chameleons or geckos! Many reptile owners claim that keeping pothos reptile plants around their reptile habitat has made their pet reptiles more active and healthier than before–so if you’re looking for reptile plants to make your reptile pet happier, this is one of the best reptile safe plants you can get!
22. Sago Palm:
Another type of reptile plant that’s considered poisonous to both cats and dogs (but perfectly safe for reptiles), the sago palm is a great reptilian-friendly addition to any reptile cage because it looks just like small pine trees but without all the needles! Plus, there are many types of sago palms out there (like cycads or zamias) so feel free to get several different types and grow them all inside reptile habitats so your reptile friends have a more natural reptile habitat.
23. Schefflera:
The “schefflera” reptile plant is actually an umbrella tree that’s very common today, and it makes for a great reptilian-friendly houseplant because all parts of the “schefflera” are considered non-toxic to any reptiles who might ingest it! So feel free to decorate your reptile cage with these reptile safe plants; just make sure you keep it away from dogs, cats, etc. since certain parts of it can be poisonous to household pets like dogs or cats (although not lizards or other types of reptiles).
24. String Of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus):
These reptile safe plants got their name because all the leaves are joined together, making it look like a pearl necklace! It’s safe reptile plants for reptiles to eat, too, so give this reptile plant away to your reptile pet!
25. Zebra Plant (Calathea zebrina):
The “zebrina” reptile plant is actually part of the Marantaceae family that includes different types of reptile safe plants such as Calathea crocata and Calathea lancifolia–but zebra plants are considered one of the best reptilian-friendly houseplants out there because they’re easy to take care of even if you have low light conditions in reptile terrariums!
Final Words – Reptile Safe Plants
If you’re looking for reptile plants to decorate your reptile habitat inside reptile cages, these are some of the best reptile safe plants that are common in many households but non-toxic when ingested by most types of lizards and other reptile pets!
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