Pueraria montana var. lobata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Pueraria lobata
- Phonetic Spelling
- pew-er-RAY-ree-uh mon-TAY-nuh low-BAY-tuh
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Kudzu is a deciduous, woody, perennial vine in the pea family (Fabaceae). It is native to eastern Asia but was introduced in the US in the 19th century to prevent erosion, enrich soil, and provide animal forage. It has escaped, naturalized and become a horrific weed. Other varieties are found in Asla, but this is the variety found in the SE United States.
It grows along riparian areas, rights-of-way, fields and roadsides. Kudzu prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils in the full sun. It aggressively colonizes by growing along the ground and up and over tree and shrub canopies, killing plants by shading them out. These reproduce vegetatively through stolons and by rooting at almost every node that makes contact with the soil. They also form a large tuberous rootstock that is difficult to kill.
This plant is not recommended for any landscape purpose in the south. Do not plant it.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mature stands of the vine are particularly difficult to manage. It seems to have no diseases or insect pests that might reduce the vine’s vigor.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pueraria
- Species:
- montana
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The long flexible stems are used in basket making. Powder from the root is used in making Arrowroot tea which is popular medicine in China, Japan, and Korea. It is being studied for its medicinal properties.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China to Australia
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Flattened pods 1.5 to 3 inches long. They mature from September to January and are produced only on climbing vines.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Lipped
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Pea-like pink or purplish flowers 0.8 to 1 inch long appear in axillary racemes that reach 4 to 8 inches long. It flowers from June to September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately compound three leaflets, alternate grayish green or yellow 2 to 8 inches long
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The long flexible stems are used in basket making.
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
