Kudzu

Pueraria montana

Illustration: Kudzu (Pueraria montana) vine with purple flowers

Identification: Rampant vine smothering trees; large three-part leaves; hanging clusters of fragrant purple pea-like flowers in late summer; huge starchy roots.

Dangerous look-alikes: 'The vine that ate the South.' No toxic look-alike with the purple grape-scented flower clusters.

Edible parts: Young leaves and shoots, flowers, roots (starch).

Season and habitat: Spring (shoots/leaves), late summer (flowers), fall–winter (roots). Throughout the Southeast.

Preparation: Leaves as cooked greens; flowers for jelly (grape-like); roots pounded and washed for kudzu starch (premium in Japan). Eating the invasion, one vine at a time.