Kudzu

Scientific name: Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. M. Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep

Common name: Kudzu

Native To: Asia

Date of U.S. Introduction: Late 1800s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Introduced for erosion control

Impact: Crowds out native species

Video: Kudzu (or click Play button below)

Current U.S. Distribution:

• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (county distribution for Southeastern States)

States Where Reported Invasive: WeedUS Database map

Management Plans: Plants / Kudzu

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Pueraria montana
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. var lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. Almeida (Kudzu) - Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System (PMIS)
US Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

Pueraria montana Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Pueraria montana var. lobata - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Kudzu - Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States
USDA. Forest Service.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Kudzu - Weed of the Week (Oct 12, 2004; PDF | 72 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection. Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Pueraria montana var. montana - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Kudzu - Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control
USDA. FS. Southern Research Station.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls

Plant Profile for Pueraria montana var. lobata - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Exotic Weeds I (Kudzu) - Integrated Pest Management Manual
DOI. National Park Service.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Excellent references section

Kudzu - Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (2002)
DOI. National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Kudzu - Forest Management Sheet (PDF | 140 KB)
Alabama Forestry Commission.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Kudzu - Kudzu Control Program
Kansas Department of Agriculture. Plant Protection and Weed Control Program.
Identification/Description; Controls

Kudzu - Missouri Vegetation Management Manual
Missouri Department of Conservation.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Kudzu - Noxious Weed List
Oregon Department of Agriculture. Plant Division. Noxious Weed Control Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts

Kudzu - Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia (PDF | 108 KB)
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Natural Heritage Program and Virginia Native Plant Society.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Control

Kudzu
State of Washington. Stevens County Noxious Weed Control Board.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls

The Amazing Story of Kudzu
University of Alabama. Center for Public Television and Radio.
Photographs; Introduction History

Kudzu in Alabama: History, Uses, and Control
Alabama Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Pueraria montana var lobata (Kudzu) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Biological Control of Kudzu
University of Delaware. College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Controlling Kudzu in CRP Stands [David J. Moorhead, Forester, Extension Forest Resources, The University of Georgia, Kevin D. Johnson, Forester, Forest Management, Georgia Forestry Commission]
University of Georgia. Bugwood Network.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Controls

Kudzu in Indiana (Sep 2004; PDF | 248 KB)
Purdue University Extension. Weed Science.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Controls

Kudzu - Introduced Species Summary Project
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Invasive Plant Mapping: Southeast United States
Princeton University.
Distribution; Special Note: Goal it to develop high resolution maps of Kudzu across 11 souteastern states.

Kudzu - Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide
Virginia Tech. Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Pueraria montana var. lobata (vine, climber) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Kudzu Fact Sheet (PDF | 67 KB)
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution

Pueraria montana
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Kudzu
Invasive.org.
Photographs; Special Note: Resources

Kudzu the Vine [Jack Anthony]
Yahoola Flyways.
Photographs

Pueraria lobata
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Kudzu
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photograph; Introduction History; Impact; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Kudzu - BioBullies (Western Pennsylvania)
Natural Biodiversity.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Pueraria montana (Kudzu)
Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.
Photographs

Pueraria montana
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References

Kudzu - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle, Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Knock Out Kudzu (without herbicides - Spartanburg, South Carolina)
Knock Out Kudzu.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls