Kudzu: Kudzu: Savior or Savior or Satan? Satan?
Dec 16, 2015
►Originally introduced into US from Japan, Originally introduced into US from Japan, 18761876
► Introduced into the South in New Orleans as Introduced into the South in New Orleans as fast-growing decorative vine, 1880sfast-growing decorative vine, 1880s
►Member of bean family (legume)Member of bean family (legume)
► Used in early 20Used in early 20thth century to control soil century to control soil erosionerosion
►Classified as a weedy vine, noxious Classified as a weedy vine, noxious pestpest
►Kudzu currently covers more than 2 Kudzu currently covers more than 2 million acres in the Southmillion acres in the South
►South has been defined as region South has been defined as region “below the kudzu line”“below the kudzu line”
►Can grow a foot a dayCan grow a foot a day
►Roots grow up to eight feet Roots grow up to eight feet undergroundunderground
►Vines die in winter; generate new Vines die in winter; generate new growth spring and summergrowth spring and summer
►Very hard to eradicateVery hard to eradicate
►Covers anything that doesn’t moveCovers anything that doesn’t move
Kudzu ProductsKudzu Products
►BasketsBaskets►FurnitureFurniture►ShampooShampoo►LotionLotion►SoapSoap►WineWine► JellyJelly►Energy drinkEnergy drink
Other kudzu-based products you might Other kudzu-based products you might enjoy.enjoy.
Energy drink from Germany
A world of kudzu-based recipes are available on the internet
Moisturizing body lotion
Skin repair cream
Soap
►MagazinesMagazines►NovelsNovels►AlbumsAlbums►Essays Essays ► JournalsJournals►Comic stripComic strip
Kudzu covers literature, films Kudzu covers literature, films and music about the South.and music about the South.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Doug Marlette Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Doug Marlette and his and his Kudzu Kudzu comic strip, which satirizes small-comic strip, which satirizes small-
town Southern life, its characters, situations, town Southern life, its characters, situations, and universal truths.and universal truths.