Question of the Week – Kudzu

This week, the question was: What invasive plant develops this attractive pink flower?

These are kudzu flowers. You can see the characteristic trifoliate kudzu leaves in the background. Kudzu is one of our most common invasive plants in the Southeast. Interestingly, it was introduced intentionally in the early 1900s as a cheap livestock forage and for erosion control. By the 1950s, kudzu use declined as it had become a nuisance (it can grow up to 1 foot per day and 60 feet in a season), and in 1997, it was added to the Federal Noxious Weed List. Read more about the previous uses and history of kudzu here.

This week’s question is from Justin Ballew, Extension Fruit and Vegetable Research Associate.