Pueraria montana var. lobata

Common Name: kudzu

Family: Fabaceae

Common Synonyms: Pueraria lobata

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5b-11

Growth Habit: Vine

Origin: Eastern Asia

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: 1899

IFAS Assessment:

• North: PROHIBITED
• Central: PROHIBITED
• South: PROHIBITED

Description

Climbing, semi-woody, perennial vine up to 30 m in length. Stems can reach the diameter of 10 cm or more. Leaves alternately arranged, compound. Leaflets three, broad, up to 10 cm across, entire or deeply 2-3 lobed, margins hairy. Flowers 1.25 cm long, purple, highly fragrant, and borne in long hanging clusters. Flowering occurs in late summer. Seed pod brown, hairy, flattened, with three to ten seeds.

Habitat

Wet to dry hardwood forest, sandhill, and scrub

Comments

The spread of kudzu in the U.S. is thought to be primarily by runners, rhizomes, and vines that root at the nodes. Kudzu may also spread via seeds. Kudzu can develop a massive tap root up to 18 cm or more in diameter and 2 m or more in length. As many as thirty vines can grow from a single root crown.

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: Glyphosate (5% solution) can be an effective option for small stands growing up poles or fences in residential areas. However, glyphosate is weak on kudzu and repeat applications will be necessary. Likewise, clopyralid is effective on young stands were kudzu is not well established. Clopyralid (21 fl. oz/A or 0.5% solution) is more effective than glyphosate and is safe to apply near trees, but can only be used in selected north Florida counties (see label for specifications). Metsulfuron and aminopyralid are highly effective on kudzu and commonly approach 100% control. Metsulfuron may cause damage to selected hardwoods if applied over the rootzone.
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Dave's Garden. 2014. PlantFiles: Kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/32107/. Accessed on June 18, 2014.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Langeland, K.A., J.A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G.E. MacDonald, and R.K. Stocker. 2011. Integrated management of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida. EDIS publication SP 242. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.