Kudzu is a fast-growing vine from Japan that has become an invasive plant problem across the American South. In its native habitat, kudzu grows at a reasonable pace, but in the warm, wet climate of states like Georgia and Mississippi, it can grow up to a foot per day during summer, smothering everything in its path.

The vine climbs trees, telephone poles, and abandoned buildings, covering them completely in thick green leaves. Entire forests can disappear under kudzu's blanket of growth. It looks almost like someone threw a giant green tablecloth over the landscape. People say kudzu is “the vine that ate the South” because once it takes over an area, it's incredibly difficult to remove.

The U.S. government actually introduced kudzu in the 1930s and 1940s, thinking it would prevent soil erosion and provide food for livestock. Instead, it became one of America's most troublesome invasive species. Without the insects and diseases that keep it in check in Japan, kudzu spreads across millions of acres.

The word kudzu has become a metaphor for anything that grows out of control and takes over: “Social media spread through the school like kudzu” or “The rumors grew like kudzu vines.” It's a reminder that introducing plants or animals to new environments can have unexpected and overwhelming consequences.