Flower ID?

[daniellenc]

i have these growing all over my backyard but know I didn't plant them. Kind of a mystery where it sprouted from but is it safe?

 

[Yvonne G]

Ah. . . the dreaded rose of sharon. If you don't have one your neighbor does. They're very prolific, propagating from seeds.

They are an excellent food source for your tortoise -leaves and flowers

 

[daniellenc]

Oh yay lol he decimated a hosta flower while the kids and me went to lunch but glad he can eat these too. Doesn't seem keen on spring mix but ate my broad leaf plantain and some dandelion leaves, red lettuce, and the flower. Left the cactus, mushroom, strawberry, and spring mix though. Guess he's settling in slowly.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Darn tortoises, they are soooo picky! It's great how much variety you have for him!

 

[daniellenc]

@RosemaryDW he's also ignored squash, zucchini, zoo med grassland mix, collards, mushrooms, and chard. I have an Asian market down the street I am going to check out but I am lucky he'll have a ton of stuff to turn down lol.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Mine ignored cactus today; cactus I had *just* plucked of the one we grow for her. Cactus, for heaven's sake!

Ignoring a mushroom though; that's hardcore! LOL

 

[daniellenc]

He's only been home 4 days so I know he's still adjusting. I plucked some rose of sharon leaves for him, and part of a flower but after being up all day he's retired to his hide after his soak. Maybe he'll find it tonight!

 

[Peliroja32]

Mine seems to not like any of the flowers offered so far, but absolutely devours cactus

 

[seanang168]

It looks like a purple version of Hibiscus

 

[RosemaryDW]

It looks like a purple version of Hibiscus

Yes, like Yvonne mentioned (before we got sidetracked on tortoise pickiness) it's a Rose of Sharon, which is a type of hibiscus. Easy to grow, if you've got a lot of tortoises to feed!

 

[seanang168]

Yes, like Yvonne mentioned (before we got sidetracked on tortoise pickiness) it's a Rose of Sharon, which is a type of hibiscus. Easy to grow, if you've got a lot of tortoises to feed!

I could find some red variety of Hibiscus over here. Do you think it is ok to pluck at night? The flowers are closed up at night though

 

[RosemaryDW]

I could find some red variety of Hibiscus over here. Do you think it is ok to pluck at night? The flowers are closed up at night though

I think it doesn't matter when you pluck it, as long as it doesn't have pesticides. Your tortoise will love the flowers open or closed. Red is their favorite color!

 

[seanang168]

I think it doesn't matter when you pluck it, as long as it doesn't have pesticides. Your tortoise will love the flowers open or closed. Red is their favorite color!

Ok thank you!