Pueraria montana
(Kudzu)

Other pictures of this plant:


               Seedpod                                           Leaf                                            Stem                                        Seed                                          Habit

Facts About this Plant:


This plant is introduced and EXTREMELY INVASIVE. It should not be grown in any garden!
    Common Names: Kudzu
    Synonyms: Dolichos lobatus, Pueraria hirsuta, Pueraria lobata, Pueraria thunbergiana
    Lifespan: Perennial
    Zones: 5 - 10
    Type: Forb
    Bloom Time: May - September
    Status: Non-Native
    Range:

Pueraria montana, or Kudzu, is NOT NATIVE to the United States. It was intentionally introduced the US in the late 1800s, without realizing it would quickly spreads. It blooms in mid summer through fall, with beautiful spikes of purple flowers that have an aroma very similar to the Brown Marmorated Stinkbug. The beautiful flower spikes are part of what have made it spread more - it was thought to be ok to plant, but the plant has become an absolute menace, particularly in the southeast, where it covers thousands of acres of forest and other things. This plant should, unfortunately, not be grown in any garden, but especially not any wildflower garden.

This plant comes from East Asia. It very quickly grows to cover anything that is in its way, eventually covering up any native plants and killing them by blocking out sunlight to them. The plant will easily grow over any obstacle. See photo below. This and the striking flowers make it very easy to recognize.

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