Last week’s puzzler, an aggressive vine that is prone to smothering everything in its path is Kudzu, Pueraria montana, commonly referred to as “the vine that ate the South.” Native to China and Japan, this vine, in the pea family, was introduced to the United States in the early 1900’s for erosion control and as a food for livestock. Since then it has spread throughout the eastern United States, from the New Jersey area south to Florida and west to eastern Texas. It does best along roadways, in sunny places and rarely makes its way into the deeper forest. The Encyclopedia of Alabama states that more than seven million acres estimated to be infested with the vine… In Alabama, one of the most heavily infested states, more than 250,000 acres are blanketed with kudzu.”
Kudzu can rapidly kill everything in its path, smothering ground vegetation, girdling tree trunks, and breaking branches high in the canopy from the weight of its vine and leaves. According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, “Kudzu spreads rapidly; its vines, which sprout from large tubers that can weigh up to 300 pounds, grow up to a foot per day and may spread more than 50 feet during the growing season.”
When I think of Kudzu, I always think of as a “bad” plant–that is, not one you would want to introduce in your garden or yard as it is definitely hard to control, aggressive and difficult to eradicate once you have it. And I’m not changing my mind on that, but Megan, one of my blog subscribers pointed out some of the positive things Kudzu has to offer. For instance, did you know much of Kudzu is edible, including the leaves, flowers and roots? I personally have never eaten them so can’t say how they taste but on-line research suggests it is similar to spinach, and like spinach, can be eaten cooked or raw.
According to thekitchn.com, “Kudzu also produces beautiful, purple-colored, grape-smelling blossoms that make delicious jelly, candy, and syrup. Some people have used these to make homemade wine. The large potato-like roots are full of protein, iron, fiber, and other nutrients. They are dried and then ground into a powder which is used to coat foods before frying or to thicken sauces.” The vine of Kudzu can also be used to make baskets, furniture and other craft-goods. Just google Kudzu baskets and you will see many, many artists have discovered that a vine hated by some, is loved by others. Some of the things they can create from it are just incredible!
I’ll take that as a lesson to remember that there is more than one side to every story, and plant. If you’re ever lost in the forest and wondering what to eat, Kudzu seems like a good bet!
…ready for another puzzler? Let’s look at a plant I found in my yard, especially a giant colony under the 100 foot Beech tree. It is evergreen, and has a small, white flower that faces the ground. Where I live, it is blooming right now.