Kudzu, An Invasive Killer Vine, Found In Falmouth
A highly invasive perennial vine called kudzu has been discovered growing at Spohr Gardens in Falmouth, spelling certain doom for native vegetation if left untreated.
The vines found at Spohr Gardens have since been cut back as prescribed by invasive species eradication experts working with the state and the issue appears to be under control, but worry has already set in. The vine’s mere presence in Spohr Gardens—coupled with the fact that the kudzu was growing on the private part of the property where the public is not permitted—raises questions as to where the kudzu came from and whether it is growing elsewhere in Falmouth, unbeknownst to residents.
“We have no idea how it got here,” said Hila Lyman, chairwoman of the Spohr Garden board of trustees. “It’s just part of the wooded area. We don’t mulch it or anything, so it wasn’t brought in by mulch. So far, this is the only place we’ve found it.”
When left untreated, the semi-woody vine grows quickly—up to one foot per day once established—and overtakes everything in its path. Over time, the killer plant has the potential to wreak both environmental and ecological damage, effectively contributing to habitat loss that can result in the loss of biodiversity and, in certain scenarios, species extinction. Despite its potentially dangerous relationship with other vegetation, the plant is not harmful to humans or animals. In fact, it is enjoyed by both grazing animals and humans and is entirely edible aside from its seed and seed pods.
“I can’t believe how extensive it was and how much it covered,” Ms. Lyman said. “When we saw what it was, we had to let as many people know as we can because if we’ve got it, it’s got to be in other places in town. My feeling is everybody needs to be aware of it.”
The vines were first spotted about three weeks ago by Keith Schwegel, treasurer of the board, who noticed a bright purple flower budding on it, somewhat resembling wisteria. He sought advice from his wife, who is a gardener, and with the help of a plant identification app, they were able to confirm that the vines were kudzu. At that point, Ms. Lyman, who is a master flower show judge, said she knew she had to alert the state.
“We have a judges’ council that meets four times a year usually,” she said. “One of our speakers had been this woman from the state talking about invasive plants and how they track them, and I went ‘aha, we need to let the state know that it’s here.’ So I got online and contacted the state.”
Ms. Lyman also contacted other local organizations—The 300 Committee, the conservation commission, and the Oyster Pond Environmental Trust, which owns the property next door—to let them know to keep an eye out for kudzu vines and help spread the word. The 300 Committee has confirmed that kudzu has been found in North Falmouth in past years, but it has not located the vine elsewhere in Falmouth until it was discovered at Spohr Gardens.
Kudzu is an invasive species native to Asia that first appeared in Massachusetts in the 1980s. It was initially promoted as a good tool to fight soil erosion and was planted in abundance throughout the South. It began growing out of control and earned itself the nicknames “the vine that ate the South” and the “mile-a-minute” plant, although those are common names often used to refer to a variety of plants that exhibit the same characteristics.
Mark Kasprzyk of the Conservation Commission said that samples of what is left of the kudzu at Spohr Gardens have been taken and will be handed over to a botanist for confirmation that it is, in fact, kudzu. The Conservation Commission acknowledged that other invasive species have been found in Falmouth, and moving forward they hope to engage in more community education that will inform the public on how to identify and help eradicate them.
Kudzu is identifiable by its three oval to heart-shaped trifoliate leaves and hairy stems. The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture has advised citizens to keep a lookout for these invasive vines and, if spotted, asks that they be properly documented and reported to its pest control division.