Just like us
The Gopher Tortoise remains healthy by eating a healthy diet of a variety of plants and sometimes even in our yards. Not using poisons in our yards can avoid tragedy of killing or sickening a Gopher Tortoise thats just out looking for a healthy lunch.
Planting tortoise friendly plants in our yards can provide a safe meal keeping our tortoise populations from having to be cared for by a vet.

This section is under construction & will be updated soon with plant pictures and links of where to buy.
Abutilon
Aeonium
African Violet
Air Plant
Alexanders
Anthirrhinum
Aster
Astilbe
Barley Grass
Bears Breeches
Bergamont
Blue Sowthistle
Boston Fern
Bristly Oxtongue
Broadleaf Filaree
Broadleaf Stonecrop
Bromeliad
Cabomba
Campanula
Cape Pondweed
Carex
Cat Grass
Cats Ear
Chameleon Plant
Chia
China Doll
Clarkia
Coleus
Coneflower
Coreopsis
Corn Salad
Couch Grass
Cranesbill Geranium
Creeping Thistle
Crossandra
Cuphea
Deadnettle
Desert Willow
Diascia
Echeveria
Elm
Elodea
Evening Primrose
Fescue Grass
Field Madder
Flowering Currant
Forget Me Not
Fountain Grass
Friendship Plant
Gasteria
Geranium
Globe Artichoke
Globe Thistle
Gloxinia
Goats Beard
Grape Ivy
Ground Elder
Harebell
Hawks Beard
Hawkbit
Haworthia
Heartleaf Iceplant
Hebe
Hedge Woundwort
Hibiscus
Hollyhock
Hornwort
House Leek
Ice Plant
Jacaranda
Kidney Weed
Knapweed
Ladys Purse
Lambs Lettuce
Lavatera
Lilac
Lipstick Plant
Livingstone Daisy
London Pride
Maize
Mallow
Malope Mallow
Marigold
Marjoram
Mazus
Mexican Petunia
Michaelmas Daisy
Millet
Mimulus
Mind Your Own Business
Mint
Mossy Saxifrage
Mother of Plant
Mulberry Tree
Musk Mallow
Navelwort
Oat
Opuntia Cactus
Oregano
Pampas Grass
Pansy
Parrot Feather
Peperomia
Plantain Bucks Horn
Polka Dot Plant
Prayer Plant
Purple Loosestrife
Red Valerian
Rhipsalis
Roundleaf Cranesbill
Saxifrage
Scotch Thistle
Sea Holly
Sedum
Sedum Album
Sedum Reflexum
Sedum Spurium
Shining Cranesbill
Sow Thistle
Spear Thistle
Spider Plant
Spiraea
Spotted Deadnettle
Teasel
Thyme
Timothy Grass
Viola
Violet
Wall Lettuce
Water Hyacinth
Wheat
White Deadnettle
Yellow Archangel
Zinnia
A Healthy Menu
Moon Valley Nurseries located right here in Central Florida has plenty of Gopher Tortoise friendly plants and expert people that can help you learn all you need to know about caring for them..
Aeonium
Boston Fern
Bromeliad
Source; Florida Fish & Wildlife;
Pawpaw (Asimina spp) –Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Japanese Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) –Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Nonnative species. Attractive greenery, fall color and fruit.
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) –Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Low maintenance.
Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia)– Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and fruit.
American Plum (Prunus americana) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit.
Peach (Prunus persica) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Nonnative species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit.
Flatwoods Plum (Prunus umbellata) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery, fruit and fall color.
Sumac, Winged (Rhus copallina) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery, fruit and fall color.
Saffron Plum (Sideroxylon celastrinum) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit.
Shrubs
Pawpaw (Asimina spp.) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit.
Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit.
Dwarf Huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Blue Huckleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit.
Bush Daisy (Gamolepis spp.) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Nonnative species. Attractive flowers and greenery.
Weeping Lantana (Lantana depressa) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Lespedezas (Lespedeza spp.) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Blackberry (Rubus spp.) – High to very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor) – Low to Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies. Low maintenance.
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) –Moderate to very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies. Low maintenance.
Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, darrowii, and myrsinites) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Spanish Bayonet (Yucca aloifolia) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Vines
Butterfly Pea (Centrosema spp.) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Passion Flower (Passiflora spp.) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Maypop (passiflora incarnate) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Wild Grape (Vitis rotundifolia) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Cultivated Grapes (Vitis spp.) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Flowers
Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.) – Moderate to very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Greeneyes (Berlandiera spp.) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Paintbrush (Carphephorus spp.) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Pineland Daisy (Chaptalia tomentosa) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Golden Aster (Chrysopsis spp.) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Dayflower (Commelina spp., excluding Commelina benghalensis) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Gayfeather (Liatris spp.) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Gopher Apple (Licania michauxii) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Lupine (Lupinus spp.) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.) – Moderate to very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Woodsorrel (Oxalis spp.) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Petunia (Petunia hybrid) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Nonnative species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies
Groundcherry (Physalis spp.) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers, greenery and fruit. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Portulacca (Portulacca spp.) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies. Low maintenance.
Petunia, Wild (Ruellia caroliniensis) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Pansy, Violets (Viola spp.) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Wedelia (Wedelia trilobata) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Nonnative species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.Invasive concerns.
Grass-like
Hairsedge (Bulbostylis spp.) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Woodland Sedge (Carex spp.) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Sedge, Flatsedge (Cyperus spp., excluding C. involucratus and C. prolifer) – High to very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Spikerush (Eleocharis spp.) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Fimbry (Fimbristylis spp.) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Umbrella Sedge (Fuirena spp.) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Spikesedge (Cyperus spp.) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Plantain (Plantago spp.) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Beaksedge (Rhynchospora spp.) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Nutrush (Scleria spp.) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Yellow-eyed Grass (Xyris spp.) – Low to moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Grasses
Upland bent grass (Agrostis perennans) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Blue Maidencane (Amphicarpum muhlenbergianum) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery.
Weeds
Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies. Low maintenance. Allergy concerns.
Beggar’s Ticks (Bidens alba) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Spanish Needles (Bidens bipinnata and pilosa) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Thistle (Cirsium spp.) – High to very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Poor Joe (Hexasepalum teres) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Virginia Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana) – Very high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Pitted Stripeseed (Piriqueta caroliniana) – Moderate forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Capeweed (Phyla nodiflora) – High forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.
Dock (Rumex spp.) – Moderate to high forage value for gopher tortoises. Native species. Attractive flowers and greenery. Attracts wildlife and butterflies.




