Introduction I am fascinated by the origins of our food. It’s a little absurd to imagine our distant progenitors, searching for food by trying every random plant and mushroom. It's harder still to imagine the investment across generations ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Recreation
While the plumbago cultivar ‘Imperial Blue’ was my first must-have flowering shrub years ago, I wanted to mix-up my plant palette with its bright white alter ego called ‘Alba’. Mixing blue and white flowers is a natural win in ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Swamp lily (Crinum americanum), also known as the seven sisters, string lily, or powder lily, is a native plant that could be the perfect addition to your Florida landscape. Find out if this low-maintenance, fragrant perennial is right for your ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
The July Plant Clinic will be held 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, July 18 at the temporary UF/IFAS Extension Annex located at the Okaloosa Technical College (OTC) in Fort Walton Beach. The plant clinic is designed to provide a place and time ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
A new Florida law that prohibits local governments from banning synthetic turf installation on some single-family residential properties could make it easier for homeowners to replace grass lawns with green plastic. (more…) READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Turf
Star anise (Illicium parviflorum), also known as Anise or Yellow Anisetree, is a low maintenance, fragrant, native shrub that could be the perfect addition to your landscape. Origins of the Florida Star Anise The evergreen star anise is native ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
A weed is any plant growing where you don’t want it to grow. An invasive is a weed that grows at a rapid rate, spreads easily, and crowds out desired or native plants in landscapes and natural areas. Native plants are plants that occur in ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Recap of July 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector Oak trees play a vital role in our ecosystems, providing food, shelter, and beauty across the globe. In the United States, there are about 90 native oak species, with 24 found right ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
A Florida-Friendly Favorite for Hummingbirds and Butterflies Acanths are Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) plants known for their long, tubular flowers rich in nectar, perfect for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. In fact, their ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
You may not recognize the name, but you have certainly seen the seagrape before. This broad-leaf evergreen is a coastal plant that brings beauty and ecological value to your landscape. If you live along the coast and you're looking for a hardy, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture