David J. Moorhead, 1995, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
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Kudzu (Pueraria montana) is a species of deciduous, climbing vine plants known for its distinctive 3-leaf clusters and purple flowers. Native to Southeast Asia, Kudzu vines can grow up to 100 feet long, and its root systems can weigh up to 400 pounds. Kudzu first came to the United States at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876, where it was sold as an ornamental plant. When soil erosion threatened farmers during the Dust Bowl, over a million acres of kudzu were planted to save prairies. However, kudzu quickly became an invasive species, smothering and shading out native plants. Today, it covers much of the American Southeast, and can be difficult to control.
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