Everybody loves to hate Kudzu.  Well, hopefully I'm going to give you a couple reasons to love it, or at least, not hate it.

 

Kudzu, Pueraria montana, is a trailing vine that resembles giant garden beans.  Each leaf has three leaflets, and are sometimes as much as four inches wide.  It has purplish pea-like flowers that grow in clusters, and are very fragrant.  Kudzu is blooming right now.  You can't see the flowers at 45 mph, but you can definitely smell them.  Roll down the windows when you're near it, and you will get the smell of grape Koolaid.  

 

Kudzu originated in China and was brought to America in the late 1800's.  Originally, it was introduced as an ornamental and forage crop for animals.  Farmers were encouraged to plant it for erosion control, and to stabilize the soil.  It was widely planted for erosion control by the Civilian Conservation Corps under President Franklin Roosevelt.  Apparently they planted some near Murphy, NC.  Because it's all over.

 

We stopped near King Ford, and I took this picture, so you can see the blooms. My picture doesn't show the plant, but you KNOW what that looks like.  I want you to see the blooms.

 

Reasons to love it #1) It has not yet invaded Five Forks.  #2) It smells pretty.  #3) The young leaves, roots, and flowers are edible. (Don't trust me; do your own research, if you're interested.)  #4) The flowers are used to make jelly.  (I've seen it at the Blairsville Farmers' Market.)  

 

Funny story...When my sister first came here years ago, she referred to the Nantahala gorge as the Kudzu National Forest. Love it!!!

 

So now, when you see Kudzu, you know more about it, and you don't have to hate it; you can see value in it.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!