KudzuKudzu Pueraria montana Pueraria montana (Lour.) Fabaceae(Lour.) Fabaceae

BiologyBiology• Climbing, semi-woody perennial vineClimbing, semi-woody perennial vine

• Native to Japan and ChinaNative to Japan and China

• Introduced to U.S. in 1876 as forage crop Introduced to U.S. in 1876 as forage crop and ornamentaland ornamental

• Extensively planted for erosion control in Extensively planted for erosion control in the southeastern U.S. in the mid 1930’s the southeastern U.S. in the mid 1930’s thru 1950’sthru 1950’s

BackgroundBackgroundEconomic UsesEconomic Uses

• Brought to Florida Brought to Florida as a forage and as a forage and for erosion controlfor erosion control

• May have been May have been used as an used as an ornamentalornamental

DistributionDistribution• Covers nearly 2 million acres in the Covers nearly 2 million acres in the

southeast U.S.southeast U.S.

• Found in several areas of north and north-Found in several areas of north and north-west Floridawest Florida

• Found along roadways and disturbed Found along roadways and disturbed areas, forests – both hardwood and pineareas, forests – both hardwood and pine

Kudzu Distribution in FloridaKudzu Distribution in Florida

ImpactsImpacts• Category 1 invasive species (FLEPPC)Category 1 invasive species (FLEPPC)

– spreads into undisturbed sitesspreads into undisturbed sites

• Grows over everything – plants, Grows over everything – plants, buildings, roadsigns (over 1 foot/day!)buildings, roadsigns (over 1 foot/day!)

• Kills other plants by blocking lightKills other plants by blocking light

• Mass of kudzu vegetation girdles stems Mass of kudzu vegetation girdles stems and tree trunks, breaks branches, and tree trunks, breaks branches, uproots trees and shrubsuproots trees and shrubs

IdentificationIdentification

Mature PlantMature Plant• Vines grow >100 feet Vines grow >100 feet

longlong• Stems ½ to 4 inches Stems ½ to 4 inches

in diameterin diameter• Some old stumps in Some old stumps in

Georgia >12 inGeorgia >12 in• Spreads by seeds, Spreads by seeds,

runners, rhizomes, runners, rhizomes, rooting vinesrooting vines

Massive taprootMassive taproot>7 inches diameter>7 inches diameter>6 feet long>6 feet longUp to 30 vines per Up to 30 vines per root crownroot crown

LeavesLeaves• Alternate arrangementAlternate arrangement

• Compound leaf with 3 Compound leaf with 3 leafletsleaflets– Leaflets up to 4 inches Leaflets up to 4 inches

acrossacross

– Entire or deeply 2-3 Entire or deeply 2-3 lobedlobed

– Hairy marginsHairy margins

Flowers and FruitFlowers and Fruit• Flowers purple Flowers purple

and highly fragrantand highly fragrant

• Long hanging Long hanging clustersclusters

• Brown flattened Brown flattened seed podsseed pods

• Contain only 1 to Contain only 1 to 2 viable seeds2 viable seeds

ManagementManagementPreventativePreventative

CulturalCultural

MechanicalMechanical

BiologicalBiological

ChemicalChemical

PreventativePreventative1.1. Remove existing plants, including Remove existing plants, including

resprouts and before seeds are resprouts and before seeds are produced produced

2.2. Total eradication necessary, constant Total eradication necessary, constant monitoringmonitoring

CulturalCultural1.1. Programs to educate homeowners Programs to educate homeowners

about the problems associated with about the problems associated with this vine and proper identificationthis vine and proper identification

2.2. Maintain good ground cover and Maintain good ground cover and mixture of plant species to reduce mixture of plant species to reduce establishmentestablishment

BiologicalBiological1.1. No insects as biological control No insects as biological control

agents available for kudzu at this timeagents available for kudzu at this time

2.2. Asian soybean rust not as devastating Asian soybean rust not as devastating as once thoughtas once thought

3.3. Goats and other grazing animals are Goats and other grazing animals are quite effective, but must be grazed quite effective, but must be grazed continuously (3 to 4 years)continuously (3 to 4 years)

MechanicalMechanical1.1. Hand pull young seedlings, including Hand pull young seedlings, including

all roots, repeated pulling for resproutsall roots, repeated pulling for resprouts

2.2. Cut vine down at ground levelCut vine down at ground level

3.3. Mowing is effective, although likely Mowing is effective, although likely impractical, but must be repeatedimpractical, but must be repeated

4.4. Dig out root crowns, tillage also very Dig out root crowns, tillage also very effectiveeffective

Chemical - FoliarChemical - Foliar1.1. Over-the-top applications, thoroughly wet Over-the-top applications, thoroughly wet

leaves with herbicideleaves with herbicide Aminopyralid – 7 oz/AAminopyralid – 7 oz/A Metsulfuron – 4 oz/AMetsulfuron – 4 oz/A Chlopyralid – 0.5% solutionChlopyralid – 0.5% solution Glyphosate – 3 to 5% solutionGlyphosate – 3 to 5% solution Use surfactant at 0.25% Use surfactant at 0.25%

2.2. Best results applied July to OctoberBest results applied July to October3.3. Basal and cut stump treatments not practicalBasal and cut stump treatments not practical

Useful LinksUseful Links• Floridata Homepage:

http://www.floridata.com/main_fr.cfm?state=Welcome&viewsrc=welcome.htm

• University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/welcome.html

• University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension Electronic Data Information Source: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html

Useful LinksUseful Links• The Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien

Plant Working Group. Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/index.htm

• Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems: http://www.hear.org/pier/threats.htm

• Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States: http://www.invasive.org

Useful LinksUseful Links• Kansas Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection

and Weed Control Program: http://www.accesskansas.org/kda/Plantpest/PestManagement/plant-pestmanagement-kudzu.htm

• Missouri Department of Conservation: Vegetation Management Guidelines for Kudzu: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/exotic/vegman/fifteen.htm

• Ronald F. Billings, Texas Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org

Literature CitedLiterature CitedLangeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. Langeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville. 165 ppFlorida, Gainesville. 165 pp