07/06/2023
Incorporating Native Plants in Your Garden – When Good Plants Go Bad – EMG Jenn
Everyone living in the South has no doubt heard of Kudzu (Pueraria spp.), “the vine that ate the South”. But look at this advertisement for it from early in the last century! This really indicates the problem with bringing in exotic plants without foresight about their impact in an ecosystem they are not a part of. Kudzu was originally considered a beneficial plant that would help with erosion and forage for livestock. Brought to U.S. in 1876 as ornamental, it was planted from 1930s–1950s for erosion control, but it escaped and due to its prolific growth (up to a foot a day!), it has become a destructive invasive in much of the South as well as the Midwest as far north as Michigan, and even as far west as Oregon, swallowing everything in its path. It overtakes and overshades other vegetation and outcompetes it, including trees, shrubs, and even things like telephone poles! The links below explain the history of Kudzu in the U.S., which should serve as a cautionary tale about the use of exotic plants.
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/the-history-and-use-of-kudzu-in-the-southeastern-united-states/
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/kudzu-invasive-species/
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