Scientific Name
Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. M. Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep (ITIS)
Common Name
Kudzu
Native To
Asia (Everest et al. 1999)
Date of U.S. Introduction
Late 1800s (Everest et al. 1999)
Means of Introduction
Introduced as an ornamental and for erosion control (Everest et al. 1999)
Impact
Crowds out native species (Everest et al. 1999)
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Distribution / Maps / Survey Status
Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) - Kudzu
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University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
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Provides state, county, point and GIS data. Maps can be downloaded and shared.
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Videos
YouTube - Invasive Species: Kudzu
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Google. YouTube; Oklahoma State University. SUNUP TV.
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YouTube - Kudzu Spreads North
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Google. YouTube; United States Department of Agriculture.
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All Resources
View and Filter All Kudzu Resources
Selected Resources
The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.
Council or Task Force
Priority Species: Kudzu
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Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Washington Invasive Species Council.
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Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - Kudzu
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Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council.
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Partnership
EPPO Global Database - Pueraria montana var. lobata
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European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.
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Global Invasive Species Database - Pueraria montana var. lobata (vine, climber)
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IUCN. Species Survival Commission. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
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Invaders Factsheet: Kudzu
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Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program (Canada).
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Invasive Species Compendium - Pueraria montana var. lobata
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CAB International.
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New York Invasive Species Information - Kudzu
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New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse.
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Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) - Pueraria lobata
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USDA. FS. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.
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Southern Forest Health - Kudzu
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USDA. Forest Service; Southern Regional Extension Forestry. Forest Health Program.
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Includes species related publications, webinars and other resources.
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Texas Invasives Database - Pueraria montana
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TexasInvasives.org.
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The Quiet Invasion: A Guide to Invasive Species of the Galveston Bay Area - Kudzu, Japanese Arrowroot
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Galveston Bay Estuary Program; Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC).
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Weeds Australia - Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)
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Centre for Invasive Species Solutions; Atlas of Living Australia; Australian Government. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
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Federal Government
Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) - Pueraria montana var. montana
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USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
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PLANTS Database - Kudzu
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USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
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U.S. National Plant Germplasm System - Pueraria montana
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USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program. GRIN-Global.
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International Government
Invasive Plants: Restricted Invasive Plants - Kudzu
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Business Queensland (Australia).
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State and Local Government
Plant Pest Risk Assessment for Kudzu, Pueraria montana [PDF, 1.66 MB]
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2013
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Oregon Department of Agriculture.
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See also: Weed Resources for more risk assessments
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Forest Pests: Invasive Plants and Insects of Maryland - Kudzu [PDF, 670 KB]
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Aug 2012
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Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Forest Service.
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See also: Invasive Plants and Insects Fact Sheets for additional species to help control invasive species in Maryland
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Invasive Species Leaflet - Pueraria montana [PDF, 206]
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Mar 2010
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North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Forest Service.
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See also: Forest Health Publications for more Invasive Species Leaflets
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Class A Noxious Weed: Kudzu
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Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.
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Division Programs: Kudzu
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Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Entomology and Plant Pathology.
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Field Guide: Invasive - Kudzu
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Missouri Department of Conservation.
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See also: Invasive and Problem Plant Control (scroll to Invasive Plants section) for more information to help you identify and control most common invasive plants in Missouri
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Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania: Kudzu [PDF, 211 KB]
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Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
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See also: Invasive Plant Fact Sheets for plant species (trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and aquatic plants) that have impacted the state's natural lands
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Invasive Species: Kudzu
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Alabama Forestry Commission.
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Kudzu (Pueraria montana or P. lobata)
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
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Academic
Kudzu [PDF, 207 KB]
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2018
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Mississippi State University. Extension.
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See also: Publications - Weed Control for Lawn and Garden for more resources
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The History and Use of Kudzu in the Southeastern United States
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2018
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Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
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Introduced Species Summary Project - Kudzu
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Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
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Plant Profile: Pueraria montana
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University of Florida. IFAS. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
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Citations
Everest, J.W., J.H. Miller, D.M. Ball, and M. Patterson. 1999. Kudzu in Alabama: History, Uses, and Control [PDF, 1.46 MB]. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. ANR-65.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Pueraria montana var. lobata. [Accessed Sep 18, 2023].