Kudzu

Growth Habit

It is a perennial, trailing vine which may grow up to one foot a day. Dense stands of kudzu are characterized by thousands of single-colored plants covering everything in their range.

Leaves

Leaves are alternate and compound with three oval to nearly heart-shaped leaflets, each three to four inches long.  They are dark green and may be entirely or slightly lobed. Leaves and stems are hairy.

Flowers

Purple to purplish-red flowers are clustered in axillary racemes up to one foot long. Each flower is pea-like and ½ to ¾ inch. Flowers are fragrant and described as grape-like.

Fruit & Seeds

Kudzu typically flowers and forms seedpods on climbing vines. Seed pods produce small amounts of viable seed. Seed pods are flattened, brown and hairy and are around 2 inches long.

Habitat

Kudzu grows best in well-drained degraded or eroded land or in disturbed, sandy, deep loam soils in full sun. It will, however, invade well-drained acid-soil forests as well as the floor of a closed canopy forest. Please click here to see a county level distribution map of kudzu in Washington.

Spread Mechanisms

Reproduction

Reproduction by seed is believed to be minimal. Most reproduction is by vegetative reproduction of vines which root at every node, forming root crowns that then send out new growth and create extensive plant coverage within one year.

Mechanical

• Mechanical control methods require enormous persistence since the goal is to deplete the rootstocks of stored food and prevent replenishment through the photosynthesis of above ground vegetation.

Biological Control

• Kudzu produces forage, which is palatable to livestock. Studies have found that goats may provide a viable alternative to chemical control.