Kudzu In The Southeastern United States

It seems like everywhere I go, lately, I see Kudzu. It seems to cover everything. It got me to wondering how it got here and why. So I decided to write about what I've found out about Kudzu.

What is kudzu?

It's a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine that's native to Japan and southeast China.

How did it get to the U.S.?

In 1876 the Japanese brought it to Philadelphia to decorate their pavilion in the Centennial Celebration.

How did it get so widespread?

In the 1930s experts at the U.S. Soil Conservation Service noticed that kudzu worked great to stop soil erosion. It didn't take them long to plant it all across the south. They also encouraged farmers to plant kudzu on their farms. It stopped the soil erosion, but it also spread really quickly too.

How fast does kudzu grow?

Kudzu can grow as much as a foot a day in hot weather. In a single season, just one plant, can grow 100 feet.

Kudzu in the south

Kudzu has spread from Florida as far north as New Jersey and as far west as Texas. Here in the south we sometimes call kudzu the "foot-a-night vine", "mile-a-minute vine, and "the vine that ate the south". I guess you know why we have these nicknames for kudzu. If not then it's because it grows so fast and it's everywhere.

Japanese uses for kudzu

In Japan they grind kudzu into a powder and use it for cooking and as a medicine. Kudzu adds flavor to lemonade, sweet and sour sauce, apple pie and fried eggplant. Kudzu, allegedly, fights influenza, upset stomach, apoplexy and sexual apathy.

U.S. uses for Kudzu

Medicine- The Harvard Medical School has been studying it as a possible way to treat alcoholic cravings. It's also shown value in treating migraine and cluster headaches.

Southern Uses- Here in the south we've used it to make soaps, lotions, jelly, and compost.

Animals- It seems grazing animals like to eat kudzu. The animals can enjoy grazing on kudzu up until frost. Frequent grazing over 3 to 4 years can ruin stands. So kudzu only serves as a temporary grazing crop.

Controlling kudzu

For long-term control you have to destroy the entire root system. You have to kill or remove the kudzu root crown and all the rooting runners. The root crown is a fibrous knob of tissue that sits on top of the root. If you leave a portion of the root crown, after removal, then the kudzu might return. You have to make sure you get all the root crown, the first time, if you don't want the kudzu to grow back. After removing the crown you have to destroy it. If it somehow gets back on the ground, and gets covered up with dirt, it will start growing again.