Coming to Georgia, one of the most intriguing features of this vivid green and bountiful land is the Kudzu vines.
This deciduous and fast-growing vine is native to Japan and Southeast China. In 1876, at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, it was introduced to America as it had sweet-smelling blossoms and was a pretty ornamental plant. Little did they know....
Around the Mid Century, we decided to use it for soil erosion. What wasn't realized was that, in the South, this vine grew rapidly, engulfing everything in its path and killing off native plants.
As a person new to this region, I was amazed to see it blanket whole forests. The resulting shapes it creates by everything it buries looks like a clan of gnomes guarding their territory.
I'm reminded of the Arizona plant used for the same purpose that became a nightmare, resulting in "tumbleweeds." There were several Asian native plants that, when placed in the desert, would dry out and blow away in brittle and thorny nightmares. I recall one time I was driving from Phoenix to Tucson when a 6-foot around tumbleweed blew in front of my car, got caught on the grill, and I pushed the dang thing all the way south.
Sadly, when it comes to Kudzu, here is the reality -
Efforts to control kudzu infestations have included the following methods: cutting, grazing, digging, disking, prescribed burning and application of herbicides. Roots of mature plants grow too deeply to be affected by freezing. Burning will kill only the very young plants.I suppose this means, it's best if I don't sit still too long in the South, or I might take on the shape of one of these botanical gnomes.
In that way that bad has some good, Kudzu's leaves are edible and the purple blossoms smell like grapes and can be made into jams. The roots are edible, as well, and they can be used as a starch element in cooking.
Kudzu is said to help with cravings for alcohol and to help with hot flashes in menopause. It contains isoflavones. It may also help circulation and blood sugar levels.