What: Kudzu is a climbing perennial vine with purple flowers.

Originated From: Asia

How it arrived: It arrived to Philadelphia in 1876 as an ornamental plant and a forage crop.

It's spreading to: Kudzu likes areas with lots of rainfall and high temperatures, in particular the southeastern U.S. Map

Threat: It grows rapidly.

Damage: Kudzu uses its leaves to smother other plants by wrapping around them with vines. Kudzu can break branches and uproot trees.

Control: Destroying the root system, cutting the vines and destroying all cut materials, and herbicides are methods of controlling Kudzu.

http://www.alabamatv.org/kudzu/