Kudzu
Pueraria montana
Description
Vine to 100 ft. in length, red-purple pealike flowers in spikes from the leaf axils; August to early September. Compound leaves have 3 large oval leaflets. Fruit is in a flat, brown dehiscent pod containing many seeds.
Habitat
Prefers mild winters and hot, humid summers; Forests, grasslands, abandoned fields and homesteads.
Location in Nebraska
Found in only a couple of isolated locations in Southeast Nebraska.
Pathway of Introduction and Spread
Introduced from China for erosion control and shade. Spreads by stolons and seed production.
Impacts
Called “the vine that ate the South” because of its rampant growth over buildings, trees and objects. Has a deep root system that is difficult to destroy. Can cause fires when it covers power transformers. Competes with native vegetation.
Kerry Britton, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org