What is "the vine that ate the south?"

In 1876, kudzu was introduced to the United States from Japan. People thought this fast-growing vine would provide food for cattle and prevent soil from blowing or washing away in the wind and rain. Kudzu is also quite beautiful to look at — its long, purple, sweet-scented flowers are a favourite of bees and butterflies.

The plans for kudzu didn’t turn out so well though. The plant grew and grew and grew. This vine can grow as much as 20 metres in one season. (That’s almost as long as a basketball court.) No wonder it’s also called the mile a minute vine! The kudzu vine loved the hot, wet summers in the southern United States and soon became a pest plant. It quickly covers native plants, fields, trees, and even buildings if it isn’t kept in check.