The Kudzu Of Helena

There are a lot of notable features about Helena-West Helena. The city's deep history, its connections to the Blues, or its place along the massive Mississippi River. But one of the most striking things to see as you drive through Helena is the kudzu. The aggressively invasive vine has managed to take over several hillsides in the city, and continues to spread. There were several homes that seem to have been abandoned, which were slowly being subsumed by kudzu.







Kudzu is native to Japan and China, and was first introduced to the US as part of an exhibit at the 1876 World's Fair in Philadelphia. It became popular because of its attractive flowers and foliage, and because it grew quickly. In the 1930s, the US government paid farmers in the South to actually plant kudzu as a way to prevent topsoil erosion and to provide food for livestock. Unfortunately things got a little out of hand. Kudzu flourished, and kept on growing. Now it's believed to cover up to seven million acres of land in just the South, and has been seen as far north as Canada.



Kudzu can grow at a rate of about a foot a day. It's been called the "vine that ate the South."





Crowley's Ridge is susceptible to erosion, and kudzu was planted in abundance there. Helena sits at the bottom edge of Crowley's Ridge, and several of the hills have been covered with thick strands of kudzu for decades. This was taken from a neighborhood, with houses sitting right against the thick vines. I'd hate to think of how much work it is to combat the kudzu assault.











And one last shot of the kudzu, taken before I lingered too long and was covered up by the vines....