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Pueraria phaseoloides - (Roxb.)Benth.

Common Name Tropical Kudzu
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Found in broadleaved forests growing over rocks and into trees in the upper tropical and lower subtropical zones.
Range E. Asia - Himalayas to China, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Pueraria phaseoloides Tropical Kudzu


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Pueraria phaseoloides Tropical Kudzu

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 
Pueraria phaseoloides is a CLIMBER at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

The tuberous root can be eaten[105, 177, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Poultice  Skin

A poultice of the plant is applied to ulcers and boils, especially in children[240]. A decoction is also used internally[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fibre  Fodder  Soil conditioner  Soil reclamation  Soil stabilization

A forage crop and cover crop used in the tropics. Pueraria phaseoloides shows a high protein content in the seeds (12-20%) with high nutrient, protein (3.8%) and sugar (7.3%) content of the whole fresh plant (green part). Grown as a cover crop (often with Centro and Calopo) in oil palm, rubber and coconut. The main advantages as a cover crop are the comparable high nitrogen accumulation and the improvement of the soil structure due to its deep rooting system. It can be used as a grazed forage crop and as green manure in crop rotations. It can prevent soil erosion. In Africa, it is mainly used as cover crops in plantations whereas in tropical America, Southeast Asia it is used as a forage crop in mixtures and as cover crops.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest  Ground Cover  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Understory legume  Fodder: Bank  Fodder: Pasture  Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Fodder  Management: Hay  Minor Global Crop

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is unlikely to be winter hardy in any but the very mildest parts of the country. It is probably possible to grow it as an annual crop, harvesting the root in the autumn. P. phaseoloides prefers to is grow in ruderal situations, such as plantations of cocoa or banana, at low altitudes (often under 600 metres above sea level) in wet evergreen or monsoon forests. P. phaseoloides is capable of growth in a large soil spectrum. Acid soils are not a problem and the pH tolerance is between 4.3 and 8. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
  • Agroforestry Services: Understory legume  Legume vegetation, especially the trees and shrubs growing between the forest canopy and the forest floor.
  • Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
  • Fodder: Pasture  Enclosed tracts of farmland mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs (non-grass herbaceous plants).
  • Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
  • Management: Fodder  Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Management: Hay  Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a warm greenhouse in early spring. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts[200]. Cover the young plants with a frame or cloche until they are growing away well.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Alan susu, Jermei-kyn-saw, Jermei-soh-gonsoh, Kachang-kachang, Kuzu-ingen, San day, Suloh, Tampong urat, Tua-sian-pah, du da miu.

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Hong Kong, Taiwan,China. TROPICAL ASIA: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

An invasive species when growing in tropical and subtropical habitats due to its fast growth, its wide seed distribution and its ability to fully cover other plants. P. phaseoloides is one of the most invasive species in the United States.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Pueraria montanaKudzu VinePerennial Climber10.0 10-12 FMHNM453
Pueraria montana chinensisMealy KudzuPerennial Climber2.0 -  LMHNM03 
Pueraria montana lobataKudzu VinePerennial Climber10.0 5-9 FLMHNM454
Pueraria pseudohirsutaTropical kudzuClimber0.0 0-0  LMHNM33 
Pueraria tuberosa Climber1.0 -  LMHNM22 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Roxb.)Benth.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

Raffi   Tue Dec 1 2009

Gardenology.org - Garden wiki & Plant encyclopedia Pueraria phaseoloides article

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