KUDZU VINE

FOUND: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, but could potentially grow anywhere – kudzu has only been found twice in NZ (in the early 2000s), but on both occasions it was covering huge areas (one almost an acre).

FEATURES: incredibly fast-growing plants – up to 30cm a day – that forms huge, solid blankets of foliage that completely smother everything around them. A semi-woody vine, up to 30m long, with large (18-20cm wide), dark green leaves that have hairy undersides. The fibrous roots can get down to 3m deep. Spikes of reddish-purple, pea-like flowers (1-2cm long) have a grape-like fragrance. The hard, flat, oval-shaped seeds are hairy and brown, like bean pods. Kudzu spreads by seed, and when stems that touch the ground take root.

HOW TO IDENTIFY IT

Kudzu doesn’t flower until it’s about three years old, so its fast growth and leaf shape are important identifiers. It does look and grow in a similar way to the more common mile-a-minute (Dipogon lignosus). However, mile-a-minute flowers every year (white-pink, pea-like), and its leaves are much smaller (5cm across).

HOW TO CONTROL IT

If you spot what you think may be kudzu, take a photo and report it immediately to the local regional council.