Date:
08/10/2010
Plant Name:
KUDZU
Plant Summary:
KRAZY KUDZU
Type:
Plant Info:
Kudzu is native to Japan and China, however it grows well in the Southeastern United States. Kudzu is a vine that when left uncontrolled will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity including other vegetation. Kudzu, over a period of several years will kill trees by blocking the sunlight and for this and other reasons many would like to find ways to get rid of it. The flowers which bloom in late summer have a very pleasant fragrance and the shapes and forms created by kudzu vines growing over trees and bushes can be pleasing to the eye during the summer months. In the south where the winters are moderate the first frost will turn kudzu into dead leaves and soon after just gray vines. The kudzu vine will continue growing the next summer almost from where it was stopped by cold weather the previous year. Around here it seems most folks don't pay much attention to kudzu and maybe that is because there isn't much we can do about it except temporarily kill it with herbicide or let livestock graze on it. However, a volunteer group in Spartanbury, S.C. called the Coalition for Kudzu Control is dedicated to developing ways to control kudzu without the use of chemicals. The Kudzu Coalition is conducting a number of interesting experiments which not only show possible ways to control the spread of the vine but provides insight into how it spreads.