Kudzu Smothers Everything

Most of you would never consider kudzu. It's a leafy green vine that appears to be any other plant you'd expect to see in the background. However, it does not remain in the background for long. Kudzu is an invasive plant that spreads at an alarming rate. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant and has since been utilized for erosion control. Kudzu can grow up to a foot every day, making it ideal for that jib. Vines can grow to be 100 feet long.

Kudzu spreads and covers everything. Soil, cement, buildings, phone booths, and other vegetation As it takes over, it covers everything. And it doesn't take long when each vine grows one foot per day. But things get worse. Isoprene and nitric oxide are produced by kudzu. When they react with nitrogen, which makes up the majority of atmosphere, ozone is formed. Ozone is a dangerous chemical at ground level, and it can kill off other plants, not to mention animals. Kudzu causes a 50% increase in the number of days each year when ozone levels are considered unsafe by EPA standards.