During the late 1970s and 1980s, the palm garden, the wetland forest, and sand scrub beds were planted.
[4] Today, it is part of the Department of Geography, Environment and Planning in the College of Arts and Sciences at USF.
[2] The gardens contain over 3,000 taxa of plants including: fruit trees, bonsai trees, grasses, begonias, orchids, bromeliads, palms, aroids, bamboo, gingers, carnivorous plants, cycads, cactus and succulent plants, an herb and scent garden, wetland forest, temperate forest, subtropical shade garden, and Florida upland scrub and sandhill habitats.
[5] While not part of the collection, native wildlife, including butterflies and over 60 species of birds, can frequently be found in the garden.
The USF Botanical Gardens have also hosted yoga classes and is a popular wedding venue.