Kudzu: Kudzu: Savior or Satan?Savior or Satan?

►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

Soil erosion in Mississippi, c.1930s.

►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

Percentage of County Area with KudzuPercentage of County Area with Kudzu

►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.

►Kudzu festivals in Kudzu festivals in Holly Springs, MSHolly Springs, MS Burningtown, NCBurningtown, NC Blythewood, ARBlythewood, AR

Website: Deep Fried Kudzu.com Website: Deep Fried Kudzu.com http://www.deepfriedkudzu.com