The 23 Best Bearded Dragon Tank Plants + How To Install Them

few things as sad as a bearded dragon tank with no plants to give it some life and the bearded dragon some sensory stimulation.

Luckily there is a wide range of plants to choose from that you can use in your bearded dragon’s tank.

And we’re not talking about plastic or fabric plants and creepers – did you know that you can use real plants in your bearded dragon’s tank? Yes, you can. And it’s easy too!

In this article, we’ll look at 23 different plants that you can use in your bearded dragon’s tank, which plants you shouldn’t use, and also how to plant, grow, and tend to your beardie’s plants.

But let’s start at the beginning – do beardies even eat plants?

Do Bearded Dragons Eat Plants?

Yes, bearded dragons do eat plants as they are omnivores. A beardie’s diet should consist of both plant matter and insects in order to keep them healthy.

However, the plants inside the tank won’t be your beardie’s everyday plants to eat, but rather decorative plants to nibble on.

Bearded dragons should rather be fed a variety of greens, including:

• alfalfa hay or chow
• beet greens
• bell peppers
• bok choy
• broccoli
• cabbage (red or green)
• cilantro
• clover
• collard greens
• dandelion greens (with the flowers as an occasional treat)
• green beans
• kale
• mustard greens
• parsley
• Swiss chard
• turnip greens
• watercress

BTW: If your beardie is not eating any greens no matter what you do, our beardie care ebook bundle can help you with that! Learn how to make your beardie eat greens within 7 days here.

23 Plants That Are Safe To Use In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank

Here is an alphabetical list of the plants that are safe to use in bearded dragon tanks, which includes details about each plant.

You can find all the details about where in the tank to plant these plants, what their watering schedule should be, etc. in the table lower down in the article.

Note! In each instance, be sure to only use plants which are insecticide, pesticide, fungicide, etc. free. If you’re not sure whether or not a plant has been exposed, rather err on the side of caution.

1. Aloe vera (Aloe vera)

Aloe vera is a type of succulent, which means that it will grow well in a bearded dragon’s tank because of its environmental needs.

There are about 500 different types of aloes, and aloe vera can grow to be very large, so just keep an eye on the plant so that it doesn’t get too big for your beardie’s setup.

Flowers can also add quite a bit of height to the plant, so keep that in mind when you choose its spot in the tank, especially if it’s a bioactive tank.

Note that although your beardie can nibble at the leaves of the aloe, they shouldn’t eat too much of it as it can have a laxative effect.

Aloe veras are also quite easy to propagate from leaves or pieces of leaves, so if there are leaves that are getting too big, you can snip them off and plant them separately, leaving them to sprout.

By doing this, you’ll also have a neverending supply of aloe vera for your bearded dragon’s tank.

Get aloe vera plants here!

2. Basil (Ocinum basilicum)

One of the herbs that you can plant in a kitchen garden and in your beardie’s tank is basil.

Not only do they enjoy munching on it every now and then – perhaps it goes as well with dubia roaches as with tomato pasta sauce? – but it will also give off a wonderful scent when the leaves are brushed against or even stepped on.

Because the basil has such soft leaves and stems, it will most likely only last a few days before you need to remove it and let it grow and mend for a while before placing it in the tank again or replacing it with a new basil plant.

3. Blushing bride (Sky plant) (Tillandsia ionantha)

The “blushing bride” or “sky plant” air plant is one of the beautiful tillandsia air plants that can easily grow on a piece of wood in your beardie’s tank.

This air plant has beautiful pink leaf tips, and its flowers are a magnificent deep purple color.

Get blushing bride here!

4. Bolivian wandering Jew (Callisia repens)

Also called the “dwarf Bolivian wandering Jew” and the “turtle vine”, this compact plant with its small leaves is ideal for creating some ground coverage in your beardie’s tank.

Keep an eye on its size and trim the stems as necessary, but other than that, you can just leave it to do its own thing.

Get Callisia repens here!

5. Bottlebrush (Callistemon)

If you’ve seen a bottlebrush tree growing outside, you may wonder how to get it into the relatively small space of a bearded dragon tank.

If you start off with a sapling and keep it trimmed back, you won’t have a problem with size as it will be a bonsai-like, bushy tree in the tank.

These trees are better suited to a bio-active tank, however, as you won’t be able to plant, uproot, and replant them the whole time as you clean the tank weekly and monthly.

6. Clover (Trifolium)

Not only good for bestowing luck on someone, clover is also great for planting in bearded dragon tanks for some foliage (even though they don’t last very long in some cases due to your beardie chomping on it!).

Clover can be short-lived, so don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t last too long in your bearded dragon’s tank.

Like basil, clover plants’ stems and leaves are soft and your beardie may squash them when clambering over the plant.

7. Dwarf jade/elephant bush/spekboom (Portulacaria afra)

This succulent is a wonderful plant to have on the warmer, drier side of a bearded dragon’s tank. Not only is it a water-wise plant, it is also hardy and very easy to grow.

The fleshy leaves and stems are also not as vulnerable to damage as some of the softer herbs and other plants that you can plant in a beardie tank.

Dwarf jade plants can grow some feet tall, but trimming them will let it become more bushy and can form a wonderful backdrop for other plants like haworthia and echeveria.

If you want to create a succulent-only tank for your beardie, the dwarf jade is a must-have.

Note! Don’t confuse dwarf jade plants with jade plants, as the latter shouldn’t be planted in a bearded dragon tank.

Get dwarf jade plants here!

8. Echeveria (Echeveria spp.)

Echeverias are another type of succulent that is harmless to bearded dragons and can be used to great effect in bearded dragon tanks because they come in so many different colors.

Because echeverias need only a little water, they can be planted on the warmer, drier end of your bearded dragon’s tank. Misting them when they dry out will be enough to keep them healthy and alive.

You can propagate more echeveria plants from those you already have in your beardie’s tank (or have bought for that use) by removing some of the larger leaves and sticking them into some soil.

They’ll soon take root and start growing new leaves, forming new plants that can be used in your beardie’s tank once they’ve grown large enough.

You can get a variety of echeveria here!

9. Haworthia (Haworthia spp.)

Of all the haworthia plants, the Haworthia cooperi and Haworthia reinwardtii are easy to buy and hardy enough for a beardie’s tank. Haworthias are all, however, suitable for a bearded dragon’s tank and won’t cause them harm even if your beardie decides to nibble on them.

Haworthias only grow to be a couple of inches tall and wide, making them the perfect plant for beardie tanks that are on the smaller side.

Even though these plants don’t need a lot of water, the light mistings that you give your beardie’s tank won’t be too much water. (Here is how much water beardie’s actually need)

Some of the haworthias have colored leaf tips or other markings that make them ideal for adding some character to your beardie’s tank.

Team them up with some smooth-leaved echeverias for an interesting, desert-like look.

You can get haworthia plants here!

10. Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

A tropical hibiscus plant can look stunning in your bearded dragon’s tank, especially when it’s in bloom. Just be sure not to plant it too close to where your beardie prefers to walk or clamber around, as the stems and leaves are easily crushed.

11. Hoya australis (Waxvine) (Hoya australis)

The epiphyte, waxvine, can grow up to 10m (33 feet) long, but don’t worry, they’re easy to take care of and keep trimmed to keep them from taking over your beardie’s tank.

It makes a great climbing vine for a bearded dragon tank and is also quite hardy. Use it as a backdrop in the tank for some great greenery that your beardie won’t necessarily climb about on.

Get waxvine here!

12. Lavender (Lavandula)

Lavender may not seem like something you would use in a bearded dragon tank, but its silver-green foliage and purple blooms can add an interesting, colorful element to your beardie’s home.

The stems and blooms will also give off a delightful lavender scent when your beardie brushes against them.

Tip: Don’t plant too many herbs and flowers in your beardie’s tank at the same time, as too many scents together will start to smell awful. Rather do one or two herbs at most.

13. Leatherleaf sedge (Carex Buchananii)

This rust-colored grass makes for a perfect desert-like setting for your beardie. Just make sure that you trim the grass back as necessary as the clumps can get quite big at times.

Team the sedge with lithops (living stones), smallish aloe plants, echeverias or haworthias to add some color and interest.

14. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

Also known as balm gentle, this aromatic herb gives off a soft, lemon scent when the leaves are crushed or brushed against.

A lemon balm plant can grow to be up to several feet tall, so keep it trimmed down to the size you need for your beardie’s tank.

Unlike some herbs, lemon balm is a perennial, which means that it grows year after year.

When you see your lemon balm plant looking a bit worse for wear in your beardie’s home, simply remove it, plant it in a pot and let it grow for a bit outside the tank before putting it back inside.

Just don’t use any insecticides, etc. while it’s not in the tank.

15. Lithops (living stones)

Lithops, also called “living stones” and “pebble plants”, are interesting succulents that resemble pebbles and can survive in the arid regions of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana – or the warmest, driest part of a bearded dragon’s tank.

Because these plants are so hardy, they make great additions to a beardie’s home, especially when teamed with other succulents and leatherleaf sedges.

Although they are very slow growing, they also bloom in spring, and can give extra color to your beardie’s tank.

Get lithops in a variety of colors here!

16. Mulberry (Morus spp.)

If your bearded dragon’s tank is high enough, you can add a small mulberry tree to it. You’ll need to trim it quite often to keep it small enough for a tank, but it’s well worth it.

You also need to keep a mulberry in a pot and not plant it straight it into the substrate. Weigh the bottom of the pot with some stones to keep the mulberry from falling over if your beardie decides it’s time to clamber about.

Keep reading to find out how to use substrate and plant pots together in the same bearded dragon tank.

17. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Nasturtiums are safe and non-toxic flowering plants that you can use in your beardie’s tank to give striking color and interest.

The round leaves and bright flowers are both edible and the added trailing foliage makes a great place for baby beardies to hide.

These plants aren’t that hardy, however, and they are only annuals, so don’t worry if they don’t last that long in your beardie’s tank.

18. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Another herb that’s perfect for a bearded dragon tank, is oregano. Like basil, lemon balm, and parsley, the plant’s leaves and stems are quite easily crushed (or eaten!).

Oregano does give off a very pleasant, woody scent when crushed, so plant it sparingly with other herbs as the scents can become too much.

Trim the plant as often as necessary once planted in your beardie’s tank so that it doesn’t take up too much space.

19. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Both curly-leaf (French) and flat-leaf (Italian) parsley can be used in your bearded dragon’s tank as edible decoration.

The parley’s vibrant green color makes for an attractive addition to a beardie’s tank and can lend some interesting texture for your beardie to explore.

20. Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Ponytail palms are actually not trees, but succulents, that make for great focal points in your bearded dragon’s tank.

Also called the elephant foot tree, this thick-stemmed plant with it’s hair-like crown of leaves is relatively slow-growing and is therefore perfect to use in your beardie’s habitat.

Because of it’s tree-like nature and size, however, you’ll most likely need to keep them in a pot (weighed at the bottom with some stones) that’s hidden within the tank’s substrate.

You can get a ponytail palm here!

21. Prickly pear cacti (Opuntia spp.) – With all the spines removed!!

Bearded dragons love to eat prickly pear pads and they make a great addition to beardie tanks – just remove the spines first so your beardie doesn’t get hurt.

Although prickly pear plants can grow up to 15 feet tall, trimming the plant back as you keep removing any developing spines will ensure that the prickly pear doesn’t get too big for the enclosure.

Team prickly pears with haworthias, echeverias, and other succulents for an epic desert-like environment for your beardie.

You can get spineless prickly pear cacti here!

22. Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum)

Wheatgrass, which is essentially the first leaves of the common wheat plant after it sprouts, is a great source of protein and other nutrients and can be both fed to your beardie and planted in their tank.

Because of the relative frailty of these new leaves, it’s important to plant the seeds in a shallow tray and sprout them outside your beardie’s tank before adding them in.

This will ensure that the wheatgrass have time to develop before your beardie eats it (or tramples it a bit).

23. Other, Edible Plants Also Suitable For A Bearded Dragon Tank

The plants listed below is completely edible and can be placed in your bearded dragon’s tank to grow while being snacked on by your beardie.

Note, however, that these plants are meant to be eaten and not form part of your permanent décor. You’ll therefore need to replace them quite regularly, unlike the more hardy, decorative plants.

• Beet greens
• Bok choy
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Mustard greens
• Swiss chard
• Turnip greens

Tip: Need a food list for your beardie? Check out our beardie food list here! It’s free.

How To Grow Beet and Turnip Greens For Your Bearded Dragon

To grow beet and turnip greens yourself, get whole beetroot and turnips and cut the tops off. Place these, cut side down, in shallow water after trimming any stalks.

Make sure that the plants get sunlight as well. Then all you need to do is wait – leaves will start growing again after a few days. Here are some more tips for growing greens from vegetable tops.

Once you have some semi-mature or mature leaves, you can plant the tops in the substrate in your bearded dragon’s tank. They’ll soon find the plants and have a nibble.

Plants You Should Never Use In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank

• Amaryllis
• Azalea
• Bane berry
• Belladonna
• Boxwood
• Buttercup
• Calla lily
• (Wild) Daffodil
• Eggplant
• Elderberry
• Holly
• Horse chestnut
• Horse nettle
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Iris
• Ivy
• Juniper
• Mistletoe
• Oak
• Ornamental Grape Ivy
• Poison Ivy
• Poison Oak
• Poinsettia
• Poppy
• Rhododendrons
• Sago cycad/cycad
• Sweet pea
• Tulips
• Voodoo lily
• Water Hemlock
• Wax berry
• Wisteria
• Yew

How To Choose Which Plants To Use In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank

Having these lists of plants can make it even more difficult to decide which plants to use in your bearded dragon’s tank!

The simplest way to decide what to use, is to take your beardie’s age and size into account, as well as the size of their (current) tank.

Your Bearded Dragon’s Age and Size

Bearded Dragon Age	Bearded Dragon Average Size
0-1 months	3-4”
2-4 months	5-12”
5-6 months	11-16”
8 months	13-20”
1 year +	16-24”

The fast pace at which baby and juvenile bearded dragons grow is apparent from the growth spurt they have from ages 2-6 months, during which they grow some 11 inches.

You can therefore plant some of the smaller and soft-leaved plants, like herbs, in the tank while your beardie is still growing, before opting for the larger plants and succulents once they’re fully grown.

The Bearded Dragon’s Tank Size

When it comes to tank size for bearded dragons, bigger is always better and the minimum tank size for your beardie should be 48” x 24” x 24” (120cm x 60cm x 60cm).

However, a more suitable size for a beardie is 60” x 36” x 36” (150cm x 90cm x 90cm), especially if your beardie grows to be 22” – 24”.

Tip: Don’t plant too many things in your beardie’s tank, rather opt for less plants and more space for your bearded dragon to move around in. You can get a background to make things look more natural without using more plants.

Can You Use Potted Plants In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank?

Yes, you can use potted plants in your bearded dragon’s tank – as long as you use plants that are safe for beardies and use terracotta pots, not just any container.

The terracotta pots are heavier than their plastic counterparts and can help in keeping the plants stabilized.

Some of the larger plants, like ponytail palms and herbs can be planted in pots to keep you from having to uproot them whenever you deep clean the tank.

Which Substrate Should You Use For Live Plants In A Bearded Dragon Tank?

When choosing the correct substrate for your bearded dragon’s tank, you need to take into account that, if you use real plants, you will need different substrates depending on whether it’s a bio-active or non-bio-active tank.

Note: If you’re making a bio-active tank, it won’t be necessary to use potted plants as you won’t be cleaning and replacing the substrate like you would with a non-bio-active bearded dragon tank.

How To Create The Best Substrate That’s Safe For Bearded Dragons and Good For Plants

For non-bio-active tanks, you can make a “Do-it-yourself” substrate consisting of 50% fine sand (for example Zoo Med Repti Sand), 30% topsoil (MUST be pesticide and contaminant free), and 20% clay-like soil, preferably Zoo Med Excavator Clay, as this clay has been proven safe for beardies and other reptiles.

The topsoil in this mixture will help the plants to grow better than when you only use fine sand. Your beardie will also love the texture and how they can burrow into the substrate.

If you want to make a bio-active bearded dragon tank, use a specially made substrate like The BioDude’s Terra Sahara substrate kit.

How to Install Plants In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank

When installing the plants in your bearded dragon tank, make sure that you plant them in the temperature zone that they will thrive in (e.g., on the warm side or cool side – we will show you where to place the mentioned plants later in this article).

Cacti and succulents you can plant directly into the substrate, while the larger plants and trees you can first plant into the weighed terracotta pots and then place those in the substrate (not on top).

Mist the plants well once they’ve been planted, and wait for the humidity to return to normal before placing your beardie in their tank.

What If Your Bearded Dragon Eats The Soil The Plants Come With?

It’s important to always remove all the soil that the plants you’ve bought came with – even though the soil should be pesticide and contaminant free – and replant it in the correct substrate that you’ll use for your beardie’s tank.

This will ensure that you don’t get any stray contaminants in the tank with your beardie.

If your bearded dragon starts to eat the substrate, it means that they are trying to get to the minerals, like calcium, that are in the soil.

This can be very dangerous for their health and cause impaction, so always make sure that your beardie gets enough nutrients, including calcium, to keep them healthy.

Dusting feeder insects with calcium and feeding your beardie a balanced diet should do the trick.

Plants’ Maximum Temperatures, Recommended Placement, And Watering Schedule

When choosing plants for your beardie’s tank, make sure that you choose a variety of plants, which can be planted in the different temperature zones of the tank, instead of a bunch that can only grow on the warm side, or the cooler side.

Below is a table that shows where the different plants mentioned in the article should be planted and how often they should be watered.

Plant Name	Maximum Temperature	Humidity Tolerance	Recommended Placement	Watering Schedule
Aloe vera	85°F | 29°C	Approx. 40%	Plant it in the middle of the tank to the back. Not too close to the basking spot. Can be planted.	Light misting 1 to 2 times per week
Basil	80°F | 27°C	Up to 85%	Plant it on the cool side of the tank. Preferably plant in a small pot to make cleaning the tank easier.	Mist when the soil starts to dry out.
Blushing bride	80°F | 26°C	60 – 90%	Plant on the cooler, more humid side of the tank.	Very lightly mist every day to every other day. Make sure the plant isn’t resting in water.
Bolivian wandering Jew	80°F | 26°C	Approx. 40%	Plant near the middle of the tank on the cooler side.	Mist every second or third day, once the top layer of soil have started to dry out.
Bottlebrush	95°F | 35°C	Approx. 40%	Plant in the middle or on the warmer side of the tank.	Mist every day to every other day.
Clover	Dependent on species, mostly 80°F | 27°C	40-60%	Plant on the cooler side of the tank, can even go next to the cool hide.	Mist every day to every other day.
Dwarf jade	86°F | 30°C	Approx. 40%	Plant on the warmer side of the tank, but not too close to the basking spot.	Mist 2 to 3 times per week.
Echeveria	95°F | 35°C	40 – 60%	Plant on the warm side of the tank.	Mist when the soil dries out – these succulents don’t need a lot of water.
Haworthia	95°F | 35°C	40 – 60%	Plant on the warmer side of the tank, but not too close to the basking spot.	Mist once or twice a week.
Hibiscus	115°F | 46°C	60 – 80%	Plant the hibiscus on the warm side of the tank, but not directly next to the basking spot.	Mist daily or at least every second day.
Hoya australis (Waxvine)	80°F | 26°C	At least 40%	Plant in the middle of the tank, or closer to the warmer side, but not too close to the basking spot.	Lightly mist every other day, making sure that the roots don’t get too wet.
Lavender	86°F | 30°C	40 – 60%	Plant it on the cool side of the tank. Preferably plant in a small pot to make cleaning the tank easier.	Mist every day to every other day.
Leatherleaf sedge	95°F | 35°C	40 – 60%	Plant on the warmer side of the tank, but not too close to the basking spot.	Mist 2 to 3 times per week when the soil starts to dry out.
Lemon balm	80°F | 27°C	Up to 85%	Plant it on the cool side of the tank. Preferably plant in a small pot to make cleaning the tank easier.	Mist every day to every other day.
Lithops (living stones)	95°F | 35°C	40 – 60%	Plant on the warm side – can be planted close to the basking spot.	Lightly mist once per week.
Mulberry	80°F | 27°C	40 – 60%	Plant in the middle of the tank or the cooler side of the tank.	Mist every day to every other day.
Nasturtium	80°F | 27°C	40 – 60%	Can tolerate bright light, but rather plant on the cool side of the tank – away from the basking spot. (Nasturtiums can suffer heat stress.)	Mist 2 to 3 times per week – don’t let the soil get too dry or stay wet.
Oregano	80°F | 27°C	Approx 60%	Plant it on the cool side of the tank. Preferably plant in a small pot to make cleaning the tank easier.	Mist every day to every other day.
Parsley	80°F | 27°C	Approx 60%	Plant it on the cool side of the tank. Preferably plant in a small pot to make cleaning the tank easier.	Mist every day to every other day.
Prickly pear cacti	95°F | 35°C	40 – 60%	Plant on the warm side of the tank, can go close to the basking spot.	Mist once or twice per week.
Wheatgrass	75°F | 24°C	40 – 60%	Plant wheatgrass on the cool side of the tank, away from the bulb’s direct light, next to the cool hide.	Works great next to the cool hide. Mist 2 to 3 times per week to keep soil moist but not wet.

How To Water Plants In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank

Water the plants in your bearded dragon’s tank by misting them with a spray bottle filled with distilled water. Using distilled water will keep the water from leaving behind marks on the tank’s sides.

Spray the individual plants that may need a bit more water first and those – like lithops – last or skip them entirely to ensure that they don’t get too much water.

What To Do If The Humidity In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank Gets Too High

Just after misting, you will notice that the humidity in your beardie’s tank shoots up.

The humidity should even out again in about an hour, but if your hygrometer shows that the humidity is still too high, you can lower the humidity by opening the tank for a few minutes.

Keep checking the humidity level until it’s normal again (35-40%), and then close the tank.

The Pros And Cons Of Using Real Or Fake Plants In Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank

The Pros and Cons of Using Real Plants For Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank
Pros	Cons
Your beardie will get more sensory stimulation, which will in turn give them more exercise and keep them healthy	Using too many plants can hinder your beardie’s movements and actually keep them from getting exercise
There is a wide variety of plants that you can choose from, including plants that need little care to thrive	Some plants need a lot of TLC, so you should choose the plants you’re going to use carefully
By following some guidelines as to which plants to use for your beardie’s tank, you won’t have to worry about your beardie getting poisoned	You need to know which plants can be toxic to your bearded dragon and which ones are safe. Planting the wrong plants can poison your beardie
Your beardie won’t ingest plastic or fabric if they chew on the leaves of real plants	You need to make sure that all the plants you use in your beardie’s tank is completely edible and non-toxic to beardies

The Pros and Cons of Using Fake Plants For Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank
Pros	Cons
You don’t have to water fake plants, which means that it won’t take as much time or care to keep the tank’s humidity stable	Your beardie may still chew on the fake plants and ingest some fabric or plastic by accident
You don’t have to prune fake plants to ensure that they don’t take over the tank. Fake plants won’t die if they’re “uprooted” or get too much light and too little water	The plants can easily become tatty because of the exposure to light and heat.
Fake plants can easily be rearranged without having to worry about humidity or heat levels killing them	Your beardie can get bored with the plants because they always look the same even though they are in different places
Your beardie can still climb around on the plants just as easily as they can on real plants, without parts breaking off	Your beardie won’t get the same tactile stimulation than they would get if each plant smelled and felt different from the others (not to mention taste different)

Conclusion

Although fake plants are an option for your beardie, giving them a forever home that’s as close to nature as possible, will keep them happier and healthier for longer. Real plants may need a little bit more time on your side, but is well worth it!