In what regions is the Kudzu vine a good choice?

I've never heard of anyone growing it in California. It's like the air potato vine everyone warned me about. I planted a few, and it turns out they're basically just snail food out here.

And every little "potato tuber" that hits the ground, GROWS.....and really well too.

Kudzu is also a fiber plant. A kimono made of kudzufu (kudzu fiber) has a silk-like sheen and is extremely durable and even water repellent. Kudzu kimonos are expensive because they must be hand woven. The fiber is too irregular to be woven on old tech machines. When kudzu finds its version of Eli Whitney (the inventor of the cotton gin) and Elias Howe (the man who patented the first practical sewing machine), I suspect the people of the Deep South will bless kudzu as vehemently as they now curse it. The technology is here. It is just a matter of that person coming along who can apply the knowledge that is available to solve the problems. I predict kudzu will one day be a major industry in the Deep South. Maybe, I should change my name to Cassandra (as in the Greek myth) but I strongly believe this.
If only we could spend the money on developing that tech that we now spend on herbacides like Round-up we would be in business. In preparation for this, of course, we will need to issue every citizen of the Deep South their own saw-backed machete so that when we have this wonderful new invention we will be able to cut ourselves a path out to let the world know.
"The Book of Kuzu" is an excellent source of information. (kuzu, kuzufu, ko-ken and ko-shi are a few of kudzu's aliases. You can probably find a more unbiased view of the plant looking under those names. Kudzu is the southern name and I assure you we are quite bias. gr-r-r-r!)
Seriously and personally, I have more issues with seacane (wild cane, elephant grass, Arundo donax) than I do with kudzu. I think DG may have rules against my expressing my honest opinion of that plant. :-) Perhaps, kudzu is an even bigger problem in the more fertile inland south. k*
http://www.kudzuweaving.com/

Can anyone tell me what kudzu seeds look like? Or, point me to a site where there is an image? The seeds are in pods? I’ve never seen seeds on any of the plants in the stand behind my house. I assume that is because I pick the flowers for cooking so seeds aren’t able to develop. (It still spreads by root and runners, but that isn’t overwhelming if you stay on top of it. I don’t want my patch spreading by seed though.
I’ve never noticed seeds on the ones beside the road either. Maybe, because they mow alongside the roads periodically or maybe I’ve just never noticed them because I DON’T harvest those. I’m a bit of a foodie and into novel cuisine. However, I do draw the line at spiced with car exhaust fumes and marinated in Roundup or whatever herbicide the state highway department uses. Thanks. Nadi

There's a pic of the seedpods in the Wikipedia entry for it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu

kudz1 thank you for all the information on kudzu. Another plant that has been recently marketed here is bamboo. That crop is also "replaceable" and it makes wonderful fabric. Quilt batting out of bamboo is the nicest batting I have ever used and the sheets made out of bamboo are the softest and nicest that I have ever used. I hope you are right about the kudzu. You are right about the technology - it is there if only someone would either think of it or try it. Maybe you!! Wouldn't you like to be a millionaire??

Woah! I see that there is fabric made out of kudzu alredy available and I am ordering some tonight. Cannot wait to see how it sews.

Oooops. Using the house computer. Clicked on the wrong user name. ~N~

This message was edited Nov 22, 2010 3:55 PM

Ah, now I'm me. :-)
Thanks, Ecarane3.
MableRuth, is the kudzu material handwoven or machine woven? We grow timber bamboo here, but I wasn't aware a material could be made from bamboo. I'll check into that. When kudzu1 becomes a millionaire, I think she should share with all of us. lol.
I probably should say that I'm only in my 20's and still have enough vigor to keep the kudzu under control. It isn't an easy thing, but I would spend money buying the products that grow wild out back from the Japanese grocery store, if I didn't. The kudzu stand out back isn't on our property. Kudzu1 would not let me plant any on the property even though I promised to keep it under control. I don't know about Cassandra, but the look she gave me when I suggested transplanting some onto Amargia property would have done Medusa proud.
No one has ever turned me down when I asked if I could have some of their kudzu. I have been asked what meds I'm on though. ~Nadi~