If you are looking forward to setting up a natural and healthy habitat for your chameleon then this chameleon safe plant list is just what you’re looking for. Chameleons make the most peaceful and commo reptile pets across the globe. Plants not only provide a fun place to live but also a climbing structure for them. Live plants appear really attractive to the chameleons while marinating the humidity and air quality of the natural habitat.
We understand how challenging it is to create just the right environment for our beloved chameleons as introducing new live plants without proper knowledge can be potentially threatening to the little ones. Therefore we have created this chameleon safe plant list to help you choose the right plants.
This A-Z chameleon safe plant list will help you choose from a number of planta, the best and the most favorable plants for your pets habitat. Doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or are habitual to keeping chameleons, this A-Z Guide will become your and your pet chameleon’s best friend.
Chameleon Safe Plant List
When you are looking forward to designing a home for your changeling, there are a certain things that should always be kept in mind. First thing first, the design should imitate the natural habitat i.e. the wild. The chameleons prefer foliage rich enclosures that are lush green and even branches of the trees where they can easily climb and hide. They also chose for themselves moisture appropriate places so that they thrive there properly.
Keeping this in mind, the second most important thing to keep a check on is whether the plant that you are providing type chameleons with is safe for them of is our toxic? In the wild, the chameleons have hundreds of plants and yes to choose from, however, in an enclosure they only have limited choices so make sure to provide them with safe environment only.
Here is chameleon safe plant list to help you choose from, the plants you want your chameleons to savour with.
Plants starting with A
ABELIA (Abelia grandiflora)
AFRICAN DAISY (Arctotis)
ALYSSUM, SWEET (Lobularia maritima or Alyssum maritimum)
AMERICAN ELM also ELM (Ulmus americana)
ANTHEMIS also known as CHAMOMILE (Anthemis)
ARBUTUS (Epigaea repens)
ASPARAGUS FERN (Asparagus plumosus or A. setaceus)
ASPEN (Populus tremuloides) – Tree
ASTER (Aster – all species)
Plants Starting with B
BABY’S BREATH also known as GYPSOPHILA (Gypsophila elegans)
BABY’S TEARS (Helxine soleirolii)
BACHELOR BUTTONS also CORNFLOWER (Centaurea cyanus)
BEGONIA (Begonia Corallina de Lucerna)
BENJAMINA also FICUS also WEEPING FIG (Ficus benjamina)
BIRCH (Betula) – Tree
BIRD’S NEST FERN (Asplenium nidus)
BOSTON FERN (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis)
BOUGAINVILLEA (Bougainvillea glabra) – Vine
BRIDAL VEIL also known as TAHITIAN BRIDAL VEIL (Tripogandra multiflora)
Plants starting with C
CALENDULA also POT MARIGOLD (Calendula officinalis)
CAMELLIA (Camellia japonica)
CAST-IRON PLANT (Aspidistra elatior)
CHAMOMILE also ANTHEMIS (Anthemis)
CHICKWEED (Stellaria media)
CHINESE HIBISCUS also HIBISCUS also ROSE OF CHINA (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
CISSUS also KANGAROO VINE also GRAPE IVY (Cissus antarctica) – Vine
COLEUS (Coleus blumei)
CORNFLOWER also BACHELOR BUTTONS (Centaurea cyanus)
CORN PLANT (Dracaena fragrans)
COTTONWOOD (Populus deltoides) – Tree
CRABAPPLE (Malus) – Tree
CUT-LEAF PHILODENDRON also SPLIT-LEAF PHILODENDRON (Monstera deliciosa)
Plants starting with D
DAISY, AFRICAN (Arctotis)
DAISY, LIVINGSTON also ICE PLANT (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis or Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale)
DILL (Anethum graveolens)
DRACAENA (Dracaena – all species)
Plants starting with E
EASTER CACTUS (Rhipsalidopsis rosea) – Cactus/Succulent
ECHEVERIA also PAINTED LADY (Echeveria derenbergii) – Cactus/Succulent
ELK’S HORN FERN also STAGHORN FERN (Platycerium bifurcatum)
ELM also AMERICAN ELM (Ulmus americana)
EMERALD RIPPLE also PEPEROMIA (Peperomia caperata)
Plants starting with F
FICUS also BENJAMINA also WEEPING FIG (Ficus benjamina)
FIRE THORN (Pyracantha)
FUCHSIA (Fuchsia)
Plants starting with G
GARDENIA (Gardenia jasminoides)
GERANIUM (Pelargonium sp.)
GLOXINIA (Sinningia speciosa hybrids)
GYPSOPHILA also BABY’S BREATH (Gypsophila elegans)
GOLD-DUST DRACAENA (Dracaena godseffiana)
GOLDEN POTHOS (Scindapsus aureus) – not to be digested in large quantities
GRAPE IVY also CISSUS also KANGAROO VINE (Cissus antarctica) – Vine
Plants with H
HEAVENLY BAMBOO (Nandina domestica)
HENS AND CHICKENS (Sempervivum tectorum) – Cactus/Succulent
HIBISCUS also CHINESE HIBISCUS also ROSE OF CHINA (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera) – Vine
HOYA also WAX PLANT (Hoya carnosa) – Vine
Plants with I
ICE PLANT also LIVINGSTON DAISY (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis or Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
IMPATIENS also PATIENCE PLANT (Impatiens sultanii or Impatiens wallerana)
INDIAN HAWTHORN (Raphiolepis indica)
Plants with J
JADE PLANT (Crassula argentea)
JAPANESE ARALIA (Fatsia japonica)
JASMINE (Jasmine officinale grandiflorum)
Plants starting with K
KALANCHOE (Kalanchoe) – Cactus/Succulent
KANGAROO VINE also CISSUS also GRAPE IVY (Cissus antarctica) – Vine
KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE (Gymnocladus) – Tree – Coffee is Toxic
Plants starting with L
LAVENDER also ENGLISH LAVENDER (Lavandula officinalis or Lavandula spica)
LILAC (Syringa)
LIVINGSTON DAISY also ICE PLANT (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis or Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
Plants starting with M
MAIDENHAIR FERN (Adiantum pedatum)
MANZANITA (Arctostaphylos)
MOCK ORANGE (Philadelphus)
MOSES-IN-THE-CRADLE (Rhoeo spathacea or Rhoeo discolor)
MULBERRY (Morus alba) – Tree
Plants starting with N
NASTURTIUM (Tropaeolum majus)
NORFOLK ISLAND PINE (Araucaria heterophylla)
Plants starting with P
PAINTED LADY also ECHEVERIA (Echeveria derenbergii) – Cactus/Succulent
PAMPAS GRASS (Cortaderia selloana)
PARLOR PALM (Chamaedorea elegans bella)
PARSLEY (Petroselinum crispum)
PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora caerulea) – Vine
PATIENCE PLANT also IMPATIENS (Impatiens sultanii or Impatiens wallerana)
PEPEROMIA also EMERALD RIPPLE (Peperomia caperata)
PETUNIA (Petunia hybrida)
PIGGYBACK PLANT (Tolmiea menziesii)
PILEA (Pilea sp.)
POPLAR (Populus) – Tree
POT MARIGOLD also CALENDULA (Calendula officinalis)
PRAYER PLANT (Maranta leuconeura kerchoveana)
PURPLE PASSION also PURPLE VELVET also VELVET PLANT (Gynura aurantiaca)
Plants starting with R
ROSE OF CHINA also CHINESE HIBISCUS also HIBISCUS (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
RUBBER PLANT (Ficus elastica decora)
RUSSIAN OLIVE (Elaeagnus angustifolia) – Tree
Plants starting with S
SENSITIVE PLANT (Mimosa pudica)
SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum comosum vittatum)
SPLIT-LEAF PHILODENDRON also CUT-LEAF PHILODENDRON (Monstera deliciosa)
SPRUCE (Picea sp.) – Tree
SQUIRREL’S-FOOT FERN (Davallia trichomanoides or Davallia bullata)
STAGHORN FERN also ELK’S HORN FERN (Platycerium bifurcatum)
STAR JASMINE (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
SWEDISH IVY (Plectranthus nummularius – often sold as Plectranthus australis)
SWEET ALYSSUM (Lobularia maritima or Alyssum maritimum)
SWORD FERN also WESTERN SWORD FERN (Polystichum munitum)
Plants starting with T
TAHITIAN BRIDAL VEIL also BRIDAL VEIL (Tripogandra multiflora)
TI PLANT (Cordyline terminalis)
TREE MALLOW (Lavatera trimestris)
Plants starting with U
UMBRELLA PLANT (Schefflera arboricola)
Plants starting with V
VELVET PLANT also PURPLE PASSION, PURPLE VELVET (Gynura aurantiaca)
Plants starting with W
WANDERING JEW (Zebrina pendula)
WAX BEGONIA (B. semperflorens)
WAX PLANT also HOYA (Hoya carnosa) – Vine
WEEPING FIG also BENJAMINA also FICUS (Ficus benjamina)
WILLOW (Salix sp.) – Tree
Plants with Y
YUCCA (Yucca filamentosa)
Plants starting with Z
ZEBRA PLANT (Aphelandra squarrosa)
ZINNIA (Zinnia elegans hybrids)
To learn about chameleon care and get tips for the same, read our blog- Chameleon Care Tips from a Herpetologist – Panther Chameleons as Pets
Check out this video for a better understanding of chameleon safe plant list-
Can I get any plant for my pet chameleon?
You should ideally research properly before getting any plant for your pet chameleon because there are certain plants that can be toxic to chameleons, therefore you should research first about chameleon safe plant list before getting plants for them.
How do I ensure a plant is non-toxic for my chameleon?
Check reputable sources like veterinary websites, reptile care guides, or chameleon forums. Avoid plants known to be toxic, like pothos or ivy, and stick to safe options like hibiscus or ficus.
How do I properly care for the plants in my chameleon’s enclosure?
Use pesticide-free soil, provide adequate lighting, and maintain proper humidity. Water regularly but avoid overwatering to prevent mold. Trim dead leaves and clean plants with lukewarm water to keep them healthy.
Do chameleons eat plants, and is it safe if they do?
Yes, chameleons may occasionally nibble on plants, especially veiled chameleons. As long as the plants are non-toxic, it is safe. Always choose chameleon-safe plants like hibiscus, pothos, or ficus.
