The City of Sebastian is very excited to announce that we will be hosting a Great Air Potato Round-up in partnership with the Pelican Island Audubon Society.
“The event will be held on Saturday, February 8th, 2025,” Felicia Gordian, Environmental Technician with the City of Sebastian, told Sebastian Daily. “We invite members of the public to join us in beautifying Stormwater Park by removing the invasive air potato plant.”
Calling all volunteers! Pelican Island Audubon Society and the Natural Resources Board need your help removing this invasive species from Stormwater Park, located at 297 Englar Drive, in Sebastian, Florida.
To volunteer, please call (772) 388-8206.
Air Potato
You’ve likely encountered this plant locally, recognized by its distinctive aerial tubers that mimic potatoes and its heart-shaped foliage. While its leaves may suggest otherwise, the air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is an invasive species detrimental to our native ecosystems. And despite its name, this particular variety is not safe for human consumption.
Air potatoes propagate rapidly, sprouting new plants from even their small aerial tubers. Thriving in diverse environments and conditions, this invasive species can quickly overrun vast areas, suffocating our valued native landscapes and disrupting the delicate ecological balance. You might observe it climbing your cherished palm tree or blanketing the vacant lot nearby.
While the air potato shares a few native relatives in Florida, such as the wild yam (D. villosa) and the Florida yam (D. floridana), it has three other invasive relatives within the state: the Zanzibar yam (D. sansibarensis), the Chinese yam (D. polystachya), and the winged yam (D. alata).
We have provided a downloadable FDACS Quick Identification Guide (PDF) with more information about the air potato.
In addition, you can explore the UF/IFAS EDIS Publication on Air Potato for further insights.
