What is Kudzu?

ERMA — What is this invasive vine called Kudzu, abhorred by residents of the South and unknown to Jersey residents?
In the South, Kudzu covers trees, entire fields including abandoned homes, barns, vehicles and climbs telephone poles. It kills trees and shrubs by covering them and cutting off their sunlight.
Kudzu is native to China and Japan and produces a sweet-smelling flower in summer.
According Max Shore’s “Amazing Story of Kudzu the Vine,” it was introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
“Countries were invited to build exhibits to celebrate the 100th birthday of the U.S. The Japanese government constructed a beautiful garden filled with plants from their country. The large leaves and sweet-smelling blooms of Kudzu captured the imagination of American gardeners who used the plant for ornamental purposes.”
According to Shore, Kudzu was sold in Florida in the 1920s, billed as suitable for cattle feed. The Soil Conservation Service hired men to plant Kudzu and paid farmers to grow the vine.
Kudzu may grow as much as one foot per day and now covers seven million acres in the Southeastern U.S. It seems not to be bothered by disease. A Kudzu stink bug will eat the plant but also consumes soybeans as well.
Want to get rid of it? Let goats or cattle graze on it or spray it with herbicide.
Our only advantage in New Jersey over Southern states is our colder winters, which Kudzu does not like.
On the plus side, Kudzu may be used as bio-fuel and may have some medicinal value.