kudzu

Plants: Vines
Magnoliopsida > Fabales > Fabaceae (Leguminosae) > Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. Almeida
Kudzu is a climbing, deciduous vine capable of reaching lengths of over 100 ft. (30.5 m). Leaves are alternate, compound (with three, usually lobed, leaflets), hairy and up to 5.4 in. (15 cm) long. Flowering occurs in midsummer, when 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long, purple, fragrant flowers hang, in clusters, in the axils of the leaves. Fruit are brown, hairy, flat, 3 in. (7.6 cm) long, 0.3 in. (0.8 cm) wide seed pods. Preferred habitat includes open, disturbed areas such as roadsides, right-of-ways, forest edges and old fields. Kudzu often grows over, smothers and kills all other vegetation, including trees. Kudzu is native to Asia and was first introduced into the United States in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It was widely planted throughout the eastern United States in an attempt to control erosion.

218 records

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Image Descriptor Description Photographer
2307166 Bark November James H. Miller
2307268 Biological Control

Overgrazing for kudzu control.

James H. Miller
0016250 Biological Control root damage George Markin
0016257 Biological Control weevil damage George Markin
0016261 Biological Control cutworm larva on kudzu George Markin
0016265 Control research spraying of plots with backpack treatment James H. Miller
0016266 Control treating tree invaded by kudzu with Oust at Seed Orchard James H. Miller
0016269 Control necessary spray coverage on foliage with Garlon or Roundup James H. Miller
0016302 Control control in power line right-of-way James H. Miller
0016253 Control tractor applications of Tordon 101 at 3 Gallons per Acre with crosswise passes James H. Miller
0016254 Control handspraying kudzu James H. Miller
0016255 Control tractor with Boomjet cluster nozzle applications of Tordon 101 at 3 Gallons per Acre with crosswise passes James H. Miller
1338001 Control Brush-B-Gon posion ivy killer 4 fl. oz per gallon. Chris Evans
1338013 Control Roundup Pro 2.6 fl oz per gallon. Griffin, GA Chris Evans
1391409 Control Aerial herbicide application John D. Byrd
1391410 Control Aerial herbicide application John D. Byrd
1391411 Control Aerial herbicide application John D. Byrd
1391412 Control Aerial herbicide application John D. Byrd
1391413 Control Aerial herbicide application John D. Byrd
2307255 Control Broadcast treatment of herbicide spray to kudzu. James H. Miller
1403047 Control Recently treated site - ground spray with Tordon. David J. Moorhead
2155044 Control Aerial herbicide application John D. Byrd
2307001 Control Broadcast treatment of herbicide spray to kudzu. James H. Miller
3694015 Damage with tractor Tim Murphy
0002155 Damage landscape uses probably account for patches surrounding crumbling homesteads throughout the South Kerry Britton
0002156 Damage Kudzu kills trees by shading them and spreads inexorably, mostly through soil movement and vegetative growth Kerry Britton
0016256 Distribution Range actually more extensive than shown here with infestations in New England and northern Midwest James H. Miller
0016127 Feature(s) Golden hairy young vines and silvery backside of leaflet in July James H. Miller
1162006 Feature(s) Flowers and leaves in July. Tifton, Georgia David J. Moorhead
5163036 Feature(s) tuberous root Forest & Kim Starr
2132024 Feature(s) Using kudzu root for food James H. Miller
1162002 Feature(s) Flower and leaves in July. Tifton, Georgia David J. Moorhead
1162003 Feature(s) Sprouts developing at root crowns in April following a winter burn. Dooly County Georgia David J. Moorhead
1162004 Feature(s) Leaves and flowers in July. Tifton, Georgia David J. Moorhead
5370289 Feature(s)

vining habit

Rebekah D. Wallace
5302044 Flower(s) Chuck Bargeron
5403442 Flower(s) Annemarie Smith
5160032 Flower(s) flowers Forest & Kim Starr
5391731 Flower(s) Barry Rice
5403229 Flower(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5403588 Flower(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5403589 Flower(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5403649 Flower(s) Rebekah D. Wallace
1624016 Flower(s) A vine from Asia that was introduced into the United States at the Philadelphia Centennial Celebration in 1876 as an ornamental porch vine. It now infests at least 7 million acres in the Southeast. James H. Miller
1316007 Flower(s) Flowering kudzu is a fast-growing legume with a grapelike odor. Peggy Greb
1519035 Flower(s) USDA Forest Service - Region 8 Archive
5160020 Flower(s) with flowers Forest & Kim Starr
5160021 Flower(s) with flowers and ocean Forest & Kim Starr
5160022 Flower(s) leaves and flowers Forest & Kim Starr
5160023 Flower(s) with flowers Forest & Kim Starr
5160024 Flower(s) Forest & Kim Starr
5160025 Flower(s) flowers habit with ridge Forest & Kim Starr
5160026 Flower(s) leaves and flowers Forest & Kim Starr
5160027 Flower(s) flowering habit with bay Forest & Kim Starr
5160028 Flower(s) flowers Forest & Kim Starr
5160029 Flower(s) flowers Forest & Kim Starr
5160030 Flower(s) flowers Forest & Kim Starr
2651015 Flower(s) David J. Moorhead
2308023 Flower(s) in September Chuck Bargeron
2131092 Flower(s) Mark Atwater
2307164 Flower(s) July Ted Bodner
1120423 Flower(s) July. Photo from Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society. Ted Bodner
0016128 Flower(s) in July Ted Bodner
0016124 Foliage leaves with lobes in June Ted Bodner
0016125 Foliage Shade leaf without lobed leaflets in October James H. Miller
1120422 Foliage June. Photo from Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society. Ted Bodner
1519033 Foliage USDA Forest Service - Region 8 Archive
2651016 Foliage David J. Moorhead
5160019 Foliage leaf Forest & Kim Starr
5005027 Foliage An invasive plant in the South Ronald F. Billings
2307160 Foliage June Ted Bodner
2307161 Foliage October James H. Miller
5403590 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403591 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403592 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403581 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403582 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403583 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403584 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403585 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403586 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403243 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5403578 Foliage

flowers

Karan A. Rawlins
5403579 Foliage

flowers

Karan A. Rawlins
5370288 Foliage Rebekah D. Wallace
5403443 Foliage Annemarie Smith
5403565 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5274007 Foliage Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5274009 Foliage

Close-up of leaves and pods

Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5274010 Foliage

Leaves and flowers

Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5276060 Foliage Tony Pernas
5370286 Foliage Rebekah D. Wallace
5370287 Fruit(s) Rebekah D. Wallace
2307165 Fruit(s)

November

Ted Bodner
1120424 Fruit(s) November. Photo from Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society. Ted Bodner
1148150 Infestation USDA APHIS PPQ Archive
1157116 Infestation Vines in trees along roadside during winter David J. Moorhead
1157117 Infestation winter scene David J. Moorhead
1162001 Infestation Georgia David J. Moorhead
1116098 Infestation Charles T. Bryson
1116100 Infestation Charles T. Bryson
1120421 Infestation July. Photo from Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society. James H. Miller
1238043 Infestation Summer photo (compare to winter photo image # 1238045) Travelers Rest, SC Randy Cyr
1238044 Infestation Summer photo. Travelers Rest, SC. Randy Cyr
1238045 Infestation Winter photo (compare to summer image # 124803). Travelers Rest, SC Randy Cyr
1238046 Infestation Winter photo. Travelers Rest, SC. Randy Cyr
1264062 Infestation Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1268004 Infestation Completely covering a roadside cut-through. Floyd County, KY. Chris Evans
1268005 Infestation Completely covering a road cut-through. Floyd County, KY. Chris Evans
1268006 Infestation Completely covering a road cut-through. Floyd County, KY. Chris Evans
1268007 Infestation Completely covering a road cut-through. Floyd County, KY. Chris Evans
1299136 Infestation John D. Byrd
1299139 Infestation Randy Westbrooks
1391414 Infestation John D. Byrd
1391415 Infestation John D. Byrd
1391416 Infestation John D. Byrd
1391417 Infestation John D. Byrd
1391419 Infestation John D. Byrd
1342019 Infestation Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1342020 Infestation Covering chinaberry, another invasive species. Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1342021 Infestation Covering chinaberry, another invasive species. Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1342022 Infestation Within a pine stand. Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1342023 Infestation Covering chinese privet, another invasive species. Tift County, GA. Chris Evans
1391407 Infestation John D. Byrd
1391408 Infestation John D. Byrd
0016126 Infestation with spring regrowth in April James H. Miller
0016123 Infestation old infestation draped on killed trees in July James H. Miller
0364060 Infestation covering house Robert L. Anderson
0016262 Infestation typical kudzu George Markin
0016263 Infestation field crew with invading kudzu George Markin
0016252 Infestation invading the Talladega National Forest sign James H. Miller
2307167 Infestation July James H. Miller
5160031 Infestation habit flowers Forest & Kim Starr
2307162 Infestation April James H. Miller
2155069 Infestation John D. Byrd
2155070 Infestation John D. Byrd
2155071 Infestation On truck John D. Byrd
1624015 Infestation

A vine from Asia that was introduced into the United States at the Philadelphia Centennial Celebration in 1876 as an ornamental porch vine. It now infests at least 7 million acres in the Southeast.

John D. Byrd
1519032 Infestation USDA Forest Service - Region 8 Archive
2132036 Infestation Roadside infestation David J. Moorhead
2132038 Infestation David J. Moorhead
2132062 Infestation Johnny Randall
2155026 Infestation John D. Byrd
1624019 Infestation Covering an old house in the South. Jerry Asher
2127020 Infestation Covering a house Chris Evans
2127021 Infestation Covering a house Chris Evans
2127022 Infestation Chris Evans
2127023 Infestation Chris Evans
2127024 Infestation Chris Evans
2127025 Infestation Chris Evans
2127026 Infestation Chris Evans
2127027 Infestation Chris Evans
2127028 Infestation Chris Evans
2127029 Infestation Chris Evans
1162005 Infestation Powerline in winter. Tifton, Georgia David J. Moorhead
1403048 Infestation Winter scene of vines draped in tree crowns. Macon, Georgia David J. Moorhead
1461046 Infestation Amy Ferriter
5344083 Infestation invading a cotton field David J. Moorhead
5345084 Infestation in flower David J. Moorhead
5370290 Infestation Rebekah D. Wallace
5384126 Infestation Division of Plant Industry Archive
5384127 Infestation Division of Plant Industry Archive
5384128 Infestation

covering a house

Division of Plant Industry Archive
5391729 Infestation Barry Rice
5391730 Infestation

Roadside plants near Montgomery

Barry Rice
5274008 Infestation Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5403566 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403567 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403568 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403569 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403570 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403571 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403572 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403573 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403574 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403575 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403576 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403577 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5391732 Infestation Barry Rice
5391733 Infestation Barry Rice
5403580 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403441 Infestation Annemarie Smith
5403587 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403594 Infestation

Several invasive species present at this location.

Karan A. Rawlins
5403595 Infestation

 

Karan A. Rawlins
5403596 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5403597 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
4064034 Hawkinsville, GA Pulaski, Co., GA James R. Allison
4064035 Ga.'s 2nd-worst exotic vine. Makes a few viable seed and those little eaten by wildlife, so not spead much by them to new locations Hawkinsville, Pulaski Co., GA James R. Allison
0001071 vacant city lots, abandoned to Kudzu provide good cover for "wildlife" such as rats James R. Allison
0581051 vines in flower, Brookside Gardens Jil M. Swearingen
0581052 Jil M. Swearingen
0581053 infestation on MacArthur Blvd. NW Jil M. Swearingen
0581054 across telephone wires-dying after being cut Jil M. Swearingen
0016268 People Dr. Jim Miller at kudzu test site, overgrazed kudzu patch in 3rd year James H. Miller
0581050 Plant(s)

Stop Kudzu! Brookside Gardens

Jil M. Swearingen
0016267 Plant(s) vine George Markin
5005024 Plant(s) Ronald F. Billings
5005026 Plant(s) Ronald F. Billings
3037001 Plant(s) infestation, SC Robert L. Anderson
3037002 Plant(s) Robert L. Anderson
5160018 Plant(s) habit Forest & Kim Starr
5163038 Plant(s) on sign Forest & Kim Starr
1461047 Plant(s) Amy Ferriter
5403593 Plant(s)

vine climbing tree

Karan A. Rawlins
0016258 Processing kudzu starch factory George Markin
0016260 Processing kudzu starch factory George Markin
0016246 Research eroded field before planting Kudzu in 1935 USDA NRCS Archive
0016247 Research four years after planted on eroded field in 1939 USDA NRCS Archive
0016248 Research pigs grazing on field USDA NRCS Archive
0016249 Research typical small plant George Markin
0016251 Research cattle grazing on field interplanted with caley pear to extend grazing in 1949 USDA NRCS Archive
0016129 Seed(s) Mature legumes (seed pods) in November Ted Bodner
5308065 Seed(s) Steve Hurst
5344059 Seedling(s) Nancy Fraley
2651013 Stand resprouting from root crown after fire David J. Moorhead
2651014 Stand resprouting from root crown after fire David J. Moorhead
5277088 Tree(s) Tony Pernas


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