Kudzu is a vine that when left uncontrolled will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity including other vegetation. Realizing that not everyone has seen kudzu or has even heard of it, I thought it would be an interesting subject to blog about. Kudzu was introduced from Japan into the US in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, where it was promoted as a forage crop and an ornamental plant. Little did they know then what a pest it would become. It overtakes everything in its pathway and I have heard it can grow a foot a day. The southeastern US has near-perfect conditions for kudzu to grow – hot, humid summers, frequent rainfall, temperate winters with few hard freezes, and no natural predators. Driving almost anywhere in the mountainous regions you will see kudzu everywhere you look. It reminds me of those ancient Mayan cities in Mexico and Central America that have been overgrown with vegetation. The purple flowers of Kudzu are also used to make a sweet jelly. This jelly is well known in the southern United States. I’ve never tried it myself but it is described as tasting like either a cross between apple jelly and peach jelly or bubblegum. Sounds pretty good to me, I may have to buy some and give it a try. I recall many years ago when David’s Aunt Nancy came to visit us. She lived in Houston, TX at the time and had never seen kudzu. She thought it was abolutely beautiful and wanted to take some back to Texas with her. We laughed and thought that was the funniest thing we had ever heard. I told her all Texans would hate her because within a year or two it would take over the entire state. Knowing what I do now I doubt it would have survived in Texas anyway as it has a much hotter and drier climate. Below are a few photos of kudzu I took just driving on I-85. None of these are really bad but will give you an idea of what I am talking about if you have never seen kudzu.
