Pueraria montana
Common Name(s): Kudzu
Non-Native to Florida
Origin: Eastern Asia1
Introduction to Florida: 1899 (ornamental, agriculture)2
This species appears on the following legally prohibited plant lists
| Federal Noxious Weed List | Florida Noxious Weed List | Florida Prohibited Aquatic Plants List |
| No | Yes | No |
UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas
CATEGORY I on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s (FLEPPC) 2017 List of Invasive Plant Species
Download a recognition card (PDF) from Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know3
Download a page (PDF) from Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas – Second Edition1
Kudzu
Management Plan
Introduction
An estimated 2 million acres of forest land in the southern United States is covered with kudzu. Kudzu was promoted as a forage crop and an ornamental plant when it was introduced to the U.S. at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. Many southern farmers were encouraged to plant kudzu for erosion control from the mid 1930’s to the mid 1950’s. In 1953, kudzu was removed from the US Department of Agriculture’s list of permissible cover plants due to its recognition as a pest species. Currently in Florida, kudzu has been documented in 14 counties and is listed as a Category I invasive species.
Description
Kudzu is a climbing, semi-woody, perennial vine in the legume family that has the potential to reach up to 100 feet in length. Stems can reach the diameter of ½ to 4 inches, but there are report of old ‘stumps’ nearly 12 inches across in Georgia. Alternately arranged leaves are compound with three broad leaflets up to 4 inches across. Leaflets may be entire or deeply 2-3 lobed with hairy margins. Flowers are ½ inch long, purple, highly fragrant and borne in long hanging clusters. Flowering occurs in late summer, followed by the production of brown, hairy, flattened, seed pods that contain three to ten seeds.
The spread of kudzu in the U.S. is thought to be primarily runners, rhizomes, and vines that root at the nodes. Kudzu may also spread via seeds. There are only one to two viable seeds produced per pod, and seeds are contained within a hard seed coat generally requiring scarification for germination. Kudzu has a massive tap root: 7 inches or more in diameter, 6 feet or more in length, weighing as much as 400 pounds! There can be as many as thirty vines growing from a single root crown.
Impacts
Kudzu will grow over anything in its path (other plants, buildings, road signs) and eventually kill other plants it covers because it blocks out sunlight. Kudzu will also girdle stems and tree trunks, break branches, and uproot trees and shrubs through the masses of vegetation produced. Kudzu has been reported to grow roughly one foot per day once established.
Management
Preventative
Total eradication of kudzu is necessary to prevent re-growth. This requires continuous monitoring and thoroughness when treating. To prevent reestablishment, replanting after treatment is critical. Prevent the production of viable seed and destroy the plant’s ability to reproduce vegetatively.
Cultural
Young colonies can be eradicated in three to four years if plants are overgrazed or persistently cut back repeatedly during the hottest temperatures of summer. Close grazing for three to four years can totally eliminate kudzu when at least 80% of the vegetative growth is continuously removed by livestock. An old rule of thumb is 8 goats per acre stocking rate for kudzu control.
Mechanical
The massive root system and crowns must be destroyed for long term control of kudzu. Cut vines just above ground level and destroy all cut material. Close mowing every month for two growing seasons or repeated cultivation may be effective. Pre-burning, cutting, hand digging and disking will weaken the roots and aid in control when used in conjunction with herbicides.
Biological
Biological control agents are being investigated, but the recent introduction of asian soybean rust is thought to be very devastating to kudzu.
Chemical
Glyphosate, chlopyralid (Transline), metsulfuron (Escort) and aminopyralid (Milestone VM) can be used to control kudzu. Follow label directions and precautions.
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 (Transline) 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 Transline label for specifications). Metsulfuron (Escort 4 oz/A) and aminopyralid (Milestone VM 7 fl. oz/A) are highly effective on kudzu and commonly approach 100% control. Metsulfuron may cause damage to selected hardwoods if applied over the rootzone.
References and Useful Links
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants Database
Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States
University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension Electronic Data Information Source
Langeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida,
Gainesville. 165 pp.
The Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group. Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems
Excerpted from
University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Circular 1529, Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida, 2008 by
Greg MacDonald, Associate Professor Jay Ferrell, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
Brent Sellers, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
Ken Langeland, Professor and Extension Weed Specialist Agronomy Department, Gainesville and Range Cattle REC, Ona
Tina Duperron-Bond, DPM – Osceola County
Eileen Ketterer-Guest, former Graduate Research Assistant
Description modified January 2014 using Citation #1 below
More Resources
View more information and pictures about kudzu vine, as contained in the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas.
View the herbarium specimen image from the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.
Citations
1. Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas – Second Edition, by K.A. Langeland, H.M. Cherry, et al. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 257. 2008.
2. Strangers in Paradise, Impact and Management of Nonindigenous Species in Florida, Chapter 2: Florida’s Invasion by Nonindigenous Plants: History, Screening, and Regulation, by D.R. Gordon and K.P. Thomas, pp. 21-37. Island Press, Washington, DC, 1997.
3. Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know – Recognition Cards, by A. Richard and V. Ramey. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 431. 2007.
4. Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida, by K. A. Langeland, J. A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and R. K. Stocker. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 242. 2011.