If plants told horror stories, Kudzu would be one of the scariest villains.
This extremely vigorous, rapidly growing vine can grow at a rate of 30cm per day in Summer, climbing and twining over trees, buildings and whatever is in its path
Native to Taiwan, southern China and Japan, Kudzu is known for its edible and medicinal properties. However, it has become a highly invasive weed in parts of Australia and many other countries. Kudzu has infested over 3 million hectares of land in southern USA, making many areas now unsuitable for agriculture and taking over abandoned farms.
Deep thick roots
Kudzu’s rapid growth and smothering habit can lead to monocultures which destroy native plant and animal diversity and severely limit agricultural productivity. It is found in warm, moist areas and favours hillsides, riparian areas, disturbed sites and areas with deep soils. Once established, Kudzu forms deep, thick roots and is difficult to remove.
Distinctive brown hairy seed pods
Kudzu is a scrambling vine with fast-growing green stems covered in brown hairs. The stems become thick and brown with age, losing the hairy covering. Kudzu leaves have three distinct leaflets which may be a broad diamond shape, but often have 2-3 lobes on each leaflet. Leaves are deciduous in colder areas, dying back or yellowing in winter. It has pea-flowers in mid summer, displaying long clusters of purple-pink flowers with a yellow spot at the base. These develop into brown, hairy seedpods up to 9cm long. The root system is strong and dense, developing tubers that can weigh in excess of 100kg and extend deep into the soil.
Think you might have Kudzu?
Effective management of Kudzu must be concentrated and sustained over multiple seasons. Please contact Council’s Biosecurity officer for assistance in controlling Kudzu and view the WeedWise profile here: NSW Weedwise – Kudzu
