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Kudzu - Pueraria montana var. lobata

kudzu in bloom
Kudzu in bloom© Clint Calhoun

Kudzu occurs statewide and is on the The Nature Conservancy's  Worst Invasives List.

 

Kudzu is a fast-growing, vigorous, drought-tolerant deciduous climbing vine with large, distinctive, three-lobed leaves and hairy stems. Its flowers are pea-like, purple and fragrant. Its fruit is a dark brown pod. The tap root may be 6 feet or longer, 7 inches or more in diameter, and weigh 400 pounds.  As many as 30 vines may grow from a single root crown. Kudzu spreads from runners and rhizomes and vines that root at the nodes. Spread by seed is also reported.

 

A serious invader of seminatural or natural habitat. Kudzu forms large impenetrable masses, growing over woody vegetation and completely engulfing unwooded areas. Kudzu kills trees by completely shutting out light, girdling woody stems and tree trunks, breaking branches or uprooting entire trees and shrubs from the sheer weight.