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SEASONAL IDENTIFICATION
KUDZU (Pueraria montana var. lobata)
SPRING
SUMMER
FALL
SPRING
-
FALL
SUMMER
-
FALL
FALL
-
WINTER
Leaves grow in groups of three and are dark green on top
and light green or whitish on the underside. Young leaves
are covered in hairs.
As kudzu ages, the stems become woody and smooth.
Perennial twisting vines can strangle trees and overtake
nearby vegetation, signs, guardrails, and open areas.
Kudzu seed pods are hairy and resemble soybeans.
Older leaves are usually hairless, but are distinctly shaped
with one to three large, rounded or pointed lobes. Lateral
leaflets usually have two lobes. The terminal leaflet is usually
symmetrical and has three lobes. Stems are covered in
dense hairs.
Purple flowers form attractive spike-shaped clusters.
Leaves turn dull yellow in fall. In the winter, persistent,
sprawling perennial vines can be seen overtaking other
vegetation.
