# ID this flowering vine, please. Thanks.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-flowering-vine-please-thanks/553344>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 10, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-flowering-vine-please-thanks/553344 "2010-09-10T22:08:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-flowering-vine-please-thanks/553344/1 "2010-09-10T22:08:22Z")

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I’m sure there is a factual answer to this question, although I will smile upon snarky and/or sarcastic answers if they amuse me.

I’m in northwestern Illinois. I encountered [this flowering vine](http://s587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/cwthree/CIMG_2010-09-10-132350.jpg)this afternoon. The [flowering portions](http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/cwthree/CIMG_2010-09-10-132232.jpg) are about 6 inches long, including the blooming, not-yet-blooming, and already-bloomed portions. The [leaves](http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/cwthree/CIMG_2010-09-10-132256.jpg)ranged from 3 to 6 inches across, and as wide.

So, anyone recognize it? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-flowering-vine-please-thanks/553344/2 "2010-09-10T22:37:01Z")

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The flowers have a pea-ish look to them, so a [Wisteria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisteria#Species) variant?  
Perhaps, [Kentucky Wisteria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisteria_macrostachya)?

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**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-flowering-vine-please-thanks/553344/3 "2010-09-10T23:57:17Z")

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kudzu, the vine that ate the South-

> **[Kudzu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu)**
>
> Kudzu (/ˈkuːd.zuː ˈkʊd- ˈkʌd-/), also called Japanese arrowroot or Chinese arrowroot, is a group of climbing, coiling, and trailing deciduous perennial vines native to much of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands, but invasive in many parts of the world, primarily North America.
> The vine densely climbs over other plants and trees and grows so rapidly that it smothers and kills them by blocking most of the sunlight and taking root space. The plants are in the genus Pueraria, in t...

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**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-flowering-vine-please-thanks/553344/4 "2010-09-11T01:26:30Z")

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> [@california\_jobcase](#):
>
> kudzu, the vine that ate the South-  
> [Kudzu - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu)

Oh, my. I believe we have a winner.

I’ve never seen kudzu before; at least, I’ve never been aware of it. I didn’t know it grew this far north. It had grown thickly over the concrete wall where I saw it, though. It appeared vigorous and healthy.

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**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-flowering-vine-please-thanks/553344/5 "2010-09-11T01:31:47Z")

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Don’t stay close to it too long- it’ll get you.  
[http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/houses.html](http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/houses.html)