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 vine that occurs along riparian areas, right-of-ways, fields, and roadsides. It is in the pea family (Fabaceae) hailing from the Pacific islands, eastern and Southeast Asia. In the southeast, this is considered an invasive vine or noxious weed as it aggressively colonizes by growing along the ground and up and over tree and shrub canopies killing plants by shading them out. These vines climb, coil, and trail reproducing vegetatively through stolons and rhizomes by rooting at almost every node that makes contact with the soil. They were originally brought to the United States from Asia in the 1800's to prevent soil erosion. It prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils in the full sun. The plant is edible and is forage for livestock but has no value to wildlife. Because it is a member of the pea family it fixes nitrogen so it is competitive in nitrogen deficient sites.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mature stands of the vine are particularly difficult to manage. This plant is not recommended for any landscape purpose in the south.
- 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:
- 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 1/2"-3" long mature September to January and are only produced 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 .8"-1" long appear in axillary racemes that reach 4"-8" long 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:
- Pinately compound three leaflets, alternate grayish green or yellow 2"-8" 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