Pueraria montana

Common Name: 
kudzu, kudzu vine
Scientific Name: 
Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merrill
Family Name: 
Fabaceae (Leguminosae) - Pea or Bean Family
Identification Notes
Life Cycle
introduced perennial, reproducing by seed and creeping roots
Stems
vine, trailing or sprawling and climbing, herbaceous to semi-woody, hairy and green when young becoming hairless
Stems of Kudzu
Stems of Kudzu
Stems of Kudzu
Stems of Kudzu
Stems of Kudzu
Leaves
alternate, compound trifoliate with 3 leaflets, long petioled, dark green, leaflet broadly oval to nearly round, lobed (2 or 3) or unlobed, hairy above and below
Leaves of Kudzu
Leaves of Kudzu
Leaves of Kudzu
Leaves of Kudzu
Flowers
5-petaled, pea-like, reddish purple with upper petal yellow at base, fragrant grape scent; axillary racemes, elongated
Flowers of Kudzu
Flowers of Kudzu
Flowers of Kudzu
Flowers of Kudzu
Seed Pods
pods, tan become brown, flattened, dense and long hairs, 3 to 10-seeded
Seedpod of Kudzu
Seedpod of Kudzu
Seedpod of Kudzu
Seedpod of Kudzu