Kudzu, << KOOD zoo, >> is a fast-growing climbing vine common in the southern part of the United States. The plant has wide leaves and fragrant, reddish-purple flowers. It can grow 60 feet (18 meters) high.
Kudzu originated in Asia, where people eat its thick, starchy roots and make the stems into a fiber called kohemp. Kudzu was introduced into the United States during the late 1800’s. For many years, it was grown as an ornamental porch vine and for livestock feed. In the 1930’s, farmers in the South began to plant kudzu as ground cover to prevent soil erosion. The vine has many long roots that hold the soil. Certain bacteria that live on the roots take nitrogen from the air and help enrich the soil. But many farmers, foresters, and property owners consider kudzu a weed because it spreads rapidly and is difficult to control.
