kudzu

Fabales > Fabaceae > Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr.
Kudzu is a climbing, deciduous vine capable of reaching lengths of over 100 ft. (30.5 m). Leaves are alternate, compound (with three, usually lobed, leaflets), hairy and up to 5.4 in. (15 cm) long. Flowering occurs in midsummer, when 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long, purple, fragrant flowers hang, in clusters, in the axils of the leaves. Fruit are brown, hairy, flat, 3 in. (7.6 cm) long, 0.3 in. (0.8 cm) wide seed pods. Preferred habitat includes open, disturbed areas such as roadsides, right-of-ways, forest edges and old fields. Kudzu often grows over, smothers and kills all other vegetation, including trees. Kudzu is native to Asia and was first introduced into the United States in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It was widely planted throughout the eastern United States in an attempt to control erosion.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

  • Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
    http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/kudzu.pdf - Nov 7, 2006

Selected Images

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Number:5005027
Description: Foliage; An invasive plant in the South
Photographer:Ronald F. Billings, Texas Forest Service
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Number:2307161
Description: Foliage; October
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:1162003
Description: Feature(s); Sprouts developing at root crowns in April following a winter burn. Dooly County Georgia
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:0016127
Description: Feature(s); Golden hairy young vines and silvery backside of leaflet in July
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:2651014
Description: Stand; resprouting from root crown after fire
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:2651013
Description: Stand; resprouting from root crown after fire
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:5344059
Description: Seedling(s);
Photographer:Nancy Fraley, USDI National Park Service
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Number:2307166
Description: Bark; November
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:2651015
Description: Flower(s);
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:2308023
Description: Flower(s); in September
Photographer:Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia
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Number:5160024
Description: Flower(s);
Photographer:Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey
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Number:5160025
Description: Flower(s); flowers habit with ridge
Photographer:Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey
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Number:2307165
Description: Fruit(s);

November

Photographer:Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society
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Number:5308065
Description: Seed(s);
Photographer:Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database
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Number:5163036
Description: Feature(s); tuberous root
Photographer:Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey
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Number:5344083
Description: Infestation; invading a cotton field
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:3037001
Description: Plant(s); infestation, SC
Photographer:Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service
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Number:2132038
Description: Infestation;
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:2132062
Description: Infestation;
Photographer:Johnny Randall, North Carolina Botanical Garden
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Number:2127021
Description: Infestation; Covering a house
Photographer:Chris Evans, River to River CWMA
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Number:1116098
Description: Infestation;
Photographer:Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service
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Number:1264062
Description: Infestation; Tift County, GA
Photographer:Chris Evans, River to River CWMA
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Number:1268007
Description: Infestation; Completely covering a road cut-through. Floyd County, KY.
Photographer:Chris Evans, River to River CWMA
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Number:1624019
Description: Infestation; Covering an old house in the South.
Photographer:Jerry Asher, USDI Bureau of Land Management
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Number:0581050
Description: Plant(s);

Stop Kudzu! Brookside Gardens

Photographer:Jil M. Swearingen, USDI National Park Service
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Number:0002156
Description: Damage; Kudzu kills trees by shading them and spreads inexorably, mostly through soil movement and vegetative growth
Photographer:Kerry Britton, USDA Forest Service
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Number:1238046
Description: Infestation; Winter photo. Travelers Rest, SC.
Photographer:Randy Cyr, GREENTREE Technologies
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Number:1403048
Description: Infestation; Winter scene of vines draped in tree crowns. Macon, Georgia
Photographer:David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia
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Number:2155026
Description: Infestation;
Photographer:John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University
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Number:2155044
Description: Control; Aerial herbicide application
Photographer:John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University
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Number:2307001
Description: Control; Broadcast treatment of herbicide spray to kudzu.
Photographer:James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:1391408
Description: Infestation;
Photographer:John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University
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Number:0016251
Description: Research; cattle grazing on field interplanted with caley pear to extend grazing in 1949
Photographer:USDA NRCS Archive, USDA NRCS
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Number:0016247
Description: Research; four years after planted on eroded field in 1939
Photographer:USDA NRCS Archive, USDA NRCS
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Number:0016248
Description: Research; pigs grazing on field
Photographer:USDA NRCS Archive, USDA NRCS
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External Links

Invasive Reference(s)

Subject Reference(s)

  • USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. - http://plants.usda.gov/