I have just moved from Florida to Arkansas. We brought our 3 turtles, they are a mixed breed (per our zoologist in FL) of Pens. Cooter and Fla. Red Eared Sliders, two boys one girl. We have had them for 16 years now. In FL we had a small pond with elephant ears and a bannana tree in their pond area. Here in AR we are starting from ground zero and are wondering about different plants for their enironment. Example we have seen the towering pampas grass which would look good in their area? Any ideas? Thanks for your help. I recently found your site and have enjoyed visiting it! Diana

I'm afraid this is not an area that I know that much about. I don't think the turtles would try to eat pampas grass so you could add that to their run. You'd obviously want to avoid planting poisonous plants. There are some plants they might try to eat and others that they would ignore. I'm afraid I'm too pressed for time right now to try to search down a list somewhere of some good plants both that they like to eat and ones they won't eat. I do know of some of the aquatic plants they like to eat if you want information on that.

Sorry that I'm not of much help.

Yes, I would appreciate any help on plants either aquatic or not. I just don't want to put anything in their area that "I could have found out about". I will also look in some books as well. Thanks for your help. Diana

From my web site:

You can add all sorts of pond plants to their pond and find out what they do and do not eat. Turtles that are inclined to eat plants will eat most floating plants like duckweed, azolla, frog-bit, water hyacinth, and water lettuce. Most submerged plants are also eaten like anacharis. It is said that most turtles will not eat cabomba. Lily leaves are relished so do not put expensive ones in with turtles. Dwarf cattail and dwarf rush are two marginals that turtles like to bask on but supposedly do not eat. If you have enough plants versus turtles, they will grow back and supply constant food for your turtles.