Kudzu (Pueraria lobata. var. montana)
WEED ALERT

A member of the Legume Family, kudzu is a climbing or trailing perennial native to eastern Asia. In the south-eastern United States it infests over 8 million acres and in 2001 a small infestation of 4 plants was discovered at Vancouver in Washington State. It is not yet known in British Columbia. It will grow in most places with soils and climatic not being a factor. Be on the look out for this invasive weed along southern borders, however, no area is immune to its' arrival.

Biology

A rhizomatous root system, which can extend 4 metres into the soil, assists kudzu in spreading rapidly once established. Hairy vines trail and sprawl and can reach over 2.5 cm in diameter. They grow prolifically all season to form dense infestations, often resulting in tens of thousands of plants occupying a single acre. Each leaf has three dark green leaflets, are 7 to 25 cm long, with or without irregular shallow lobes and hairy beneath. Although rarely produced, kudzu flowers are 12 - 19 mm, purple, pea-shaped and usually emerge on plants in direct sunlight. Seeds are produced in hairy, bean-like pods.

Kudzu leaves are comprised of 3 lobed leaflets

Reproduction

Stems and roots spread in all directions from the root crown where new plants develop every one or two feet at vine or stem nodes. During optimum growing season in early summer vines can grow up to a foot per day. Few viable seeds are produced in the seedpods and those that may be are thought to lay dormant for many years prior to germination.

Habitat 

Kudzu preferes deep well-drained loamy soils; rough, well drained eroded land; disturbed, sandy deep loam soils. Kudzu proliferates best in locations receiving full sun.

Concern 

Kudzu is a very aggressive plant and can out-compete or eliminate native plant species thereby upsetting the natural diversity of plant and animal communities. Its' rapid growth (vines can grow up to 60 feet per year) and creeping, climbing growth pattern enable kudzu to grow over objects smothering and shading plants and trees from light. Timber and agricultural crops are either killed or degraded by kudzu invasion. It is grazable forage for livestock but its' thick, long, woody vine make it impractical to cut and bale as a hay crop. Kudzu vines are used for basket weaving and blossoms are used to make jelly and syrup.

Kudzu covering abandoned house	Kudzu growing over trees

Photos courtesy Jack Anthony, Yahoola Flyways, www. jjanthony.com/index.html

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