Kudzu
Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S.M.Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep
Pueraria montana, more commonly known as kudzu, is a species of plant in the botanical family Fabaceae.
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Kudzu flowerKudzu roots
Kudzu roots
Kudzu flower
Kudzu fruit
Kudzu
Kudzu leavesKudzu flowerKudzu rootsOverview
Pueraria montana, more commonly known as kudzu, is a species of plant in the botanical family Fabaceae. At least three sub-species (alternatively called varieties) are known. It is closely related to other species in the genus Pueraria (P.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
edulis and P. phaseoloides) and the common name is used for all of these species and hybrids between them. The morphological differences between them are subtle, they can breed with each other, and it appears that introduced kudzu populations in the United States have ancestry from more than one of the species.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
Ripe **seed** is collected and sown fresh or stored dry; germination is best on a moist, well-drained seedbed.
Seedling & growth
Young plants gain height, branch and build a stable canopy in their first growing season.
Flowering
In season the plant opens **deep purple pea-like flowers, July–September**, adding colour and nectar for insects.
Fruiting & harvest
Fruit ripens and seed is collected for propagation; **2–3-year-old tuberous roots dug in autumn–winter**.
Uses
- phaseoloides) and the common name is used for all of these species and hybrids between them.
Habitat & conservation
At least three sub-species (alternatively called varieties) are known.
Conservation
Kudzu has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Pueraria montana — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Pueraria montana — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q1054489 — Wikidata,