Kudzu

Exotic:

Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteate) only grows 1.5 meters tall and has pale violet or white flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

Riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) has coarsely toothed leaves with no leaflets.

Originally from Eastern Asia, Kudzu was first brought to North America as a garden ornament. It was also used as livestock forage and for erosion control.

Kudzu requires full sun and abundant moisture. It can survive in a wide range of conditions but it is best adapted to deep, well-drained, sandy soils on disturbed sites. It often grows in abandoned fields and urban lots, roadsides, forest edges, fields, croplands and pastures.

Kudzu reproduces mainly vegetatively but also by seed. Kudzu can spread aggressively through its stem nodes and tuberous rhizomes.

Short distance spread occurs mainly through Kudzu’s creeping vines. This plant is also spread over longer distances through horticulture and agriculture, as it is sometimes grown in gardens. Kudzu may also spread through contaminated soil.

Kudzu is NOT currently found throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor, so the best approach to controlling its spread is by PREVENTION.

 

Learn to identify Kudzu: use the images presented in this profile page to learn how to identify Kudzu.

What to do if you spot it: You can report any Kudzu sighting by clicking here.

 

DO:

• Regularly monitor properties for weed infestations.
• Ensure soil and gravel are uncontaminated before transport.
• Ensure that plants are disposed of in a garbage bag to prevent seeds from spreading.

 

DO NOT:

• Unload, park or store equipment or vehicles in infested areas; remove plant material from any equipment, vehicles or clothing used in such areas and wash equipment and vehicles at designated cleaning sites before leaving infested areas.
• Plant Kudzu in a garden, no matter how well-contained its enclosure may seem.
• Move soil that has been contaminated with Kudzu.
• Compost Kudzu!

 

Control

Mechanical

• Early detection and rapid response (EDRR) should be the main focus, as Kudzu is very difficult to remove once established.
• Small populations can be controlled by digging out all the root crowns, or by repeated mowing and brush cutting.
• Plants can also be covered in deep mulch or plastic sheeting to deplete root reserves.

Chemical

• Dicamba or glyphosate can be effective to control Kudzu infestations.
• Where permitted, stem injection treatments may also work for smaller infestations.
• It is recommended that a site be monitored for 5-10 years after herbicide application.

We recommend that any herbicide application is carried out by a person holding a valid BC Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Before selecting and applying herbicides, you must review and follow herbicide labels and application rates; municipal, regional, provincial and federal laws and regulations; species-specific treatment recommendations, and site-specific goals and objectives.

Biological

There is no biocontrol available for this plant.