Department of Natural Resources
kudzu-vine Pueraria lobata
is a woody vine known for its very rapid growth. It is a member of the
bean family and has large trifoliate leaves. The purple flowers are produced
from August through September. A native of China and Japan, it was introduced
into the United States at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876.
During the 1930s rootstocks of kudzu were extensively planted on badly
eroded lands in the southern states, and it now covers an estimated seven
million acres of land, most in the southeastern United States. Kudzu starts
new colonies by fragmentation of the stems and roots. Recently, it has
demonstrated an ability to survive northern winters. It is becoming established
statewide in Illinois.
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