Category: Invasive Species

Plant Status Change – Tropical Milkweed is Now Listed as a Category II Invasive

by Tia Silvasy
November 5, 2025

Tropical Milkweed is now Invasive! Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) was once a go to larval host plant for monarch butterflies. As of June 2025 the plant status has changed. It is now listed as invasive in the entire state ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Asclepias, Butterfly, Invasive Species, Native Plants, Tropical Milkweed, Tsilvasy

Unlocking the Forest: A High-Tech Nature Walk at Alafia State Park

by ambernorris
October 15, 2025

Equipped with binoculars, field guides, and AI technology, we set out for a crisp fall morning adventure at Alafia State Park. We discovered that today’s nature walk isn't just about what you can see, but what technology can help you hear, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: 4-H, AI, Anorris, Central Florida, Hillsborough County, State Parks, Technology, Uf/ifas Extension, Wildlife, Youth

Chinese Crown Orchid – An Invasive Species you Need to Know

by Tia Silvasy
September 30, 2025

Introduction Chinese crown orchid, Eulophia graminea, is a relatively new invasive species spreading through the state of Florida. It was first found in mulch in Miami, FL in 2007 and is now listed as a Category II invasive species by the ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Crown Orchid, Invasive Species, Tampa Bay, Tsilvasy

Hillsborough County Plant Clinic Offers Free Service to Answer Lawn and Landscape Questions

by Tia Silvasy
July 23, 2025

Plant Clinic Services UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County has trained Master Gardener Volunteers and staff to answer your questions about turfgrass, vegetables, fruit trees, ornamental plants, shrubs, trees and more. We offer insect and ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Disease, Free, Garden Help, Help Desk, Hillsborough County, Insect, Plant Clinic, Soil, Tampa Bay, Uf/ifas Extension

Understanding Plant Status: Native, Florida-Friendly, and Invasive Species

by Tia Silvasy
December 5, 2024

There is a lot of confusion about plant status and it's important to know the plant status so you can make the best decisions about selecting the right plants for your landscape. Let's start with some definitions! What is a Florida native ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Florida Native Plants, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Invasive Plants, Plant Status

Growing Bamboo in Florida

by Tia Silvasy
August 24, 2024

In Florida, we have temperate to tropical climates that allow us to grow many species of bamboo. There are 1,400 of bamboo species in 115 genera worldwide. We also have a Florida native bamboo species, called switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea) ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Bamboo, Central Florida, Clumping, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Garden, Invasive Plants, Propagation, Running, Tsilvasy

The end is coming…for you to submit your landscape in the Tampa Bay Water Wise Awards Contest.

by Lynn Barber
June 16, 2023

Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas County residents: Do you wish you could win this award and proudly display the 2023 handmade mosaic steppingstone in your yard? If yes, read on! Complete the entry form by June 30, 2023. This will take about ... READ MORE

Category: , Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Landscape Evaluation, Water Conservation, Water Wise Award

University of Florida Experts offer Pest and Disease Workshop for Tampa Bay

by Tia Silvasy
April 21, 2023

Join UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County as we host the Florida First Detector Workshop on Friday May 19th from 9:30 to 11:30am. This class offers residents an introduction to identifying pests and diseases in your home landscape from experts ... READ MORE

Category: , Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Disease, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Garden, Hillsborough County, Home Landscape, Master Gardener, Pest, Tampa Bay, Tsilvasy, Uf/ifas Extension

Gardening with Florida Native Plants

by Tia Silvasy
April 13, 2023

Watch our Gardening with Native Plants webinar with Tia Silvasy, UF/IFAS Extension and Anita Camacho, Little Red Wagon Native Nursery What is a native plant?Let's start with a few definitions. A native plant is one that has been documented ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Central Florida, Florida, Florida Friendly, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Garden, Landscape, Landscaping, Milkweed, Monarch, Native, Native Plants, Plants, Tsilvasy

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