cover of episode Kudzu: The Vine That Just Won't Stop

Kudzu: The Vine That Just Won't Stop

2024/10/17
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Kudzu, a perennial vine native to China and Japan, is known for its rapid growth and invasive nature in the American South. Its scientific name is Pueraria Montana, and it belongs to the legume family. Kudzu's aggressive growth has earned it the nickname "The Vine That Ate the South.
  • Kudzu is native to China and Japan.
  • It's a legume and a nitrogen fixer.
  • It can grow up to a foot a day and 40-60 feet in a growing season.
  • Kudzu climbs by wrapping tendrils around supporting structures, often overwhelming them.

Shownotes Transcript

If you're from the American South, then kudzu is something that cannot be avoided. But how did this invasive species get here and why does it love to consume everything in its path?

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