Kudzu is a fast-growing vine native to East Asia, introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant and for erosion control. It is considered highly invasive in the southeastern U.S., where it can quickly cover trees, power lines, and buildings, suffocating native vegetation. A fun fact about kudzu is that it can grow up to a foot per day under ideal conditions, earning it the nickname "the vine that ate the South." Despite its invasiveness, kudzu has uses in soil improvement and traditional medicine.