kudzu Fabaceae Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. symbol: PUMO Leaf: Alternate, compound, 6 to 8 inches long, very long rachis, 3 fuzzy leaflets, individual leaflets 3 to 4 inches long, oval or nearly heart shaped, may be lobed and fuzzy. Flower: Large hanging clusters of pea-like, purple to red flowers, with a grape-like smell, appearing in mid-summer. Fruit: Dark brown flattened pods in clusters, very hairy; ripen in the fall. Twig: Velvety hairy turning brown. Bark: Brown and smooth but eventually becoming finely scaly. Form: High climbing vine, very often completely covers trees and forms "Kudzu sculptures". Stems may reach up to 4 inches in diameter. Additional Range Information: Pueraria montana is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. See states reporting kudzu. More: Fall Color External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson