In 1876 kudzu was introduced to the United States from Japan for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The purpose of this plant was to help prevent soil erosion because of the rapid growth; it was also used to shade porches and cover scarred landscapes from the railroad construction. The intense heat and humid climate of the south eastern united states was an ideal place for the kudzu to thrive unchallenged. In 1953 the USDA labeled kudzu as a weed.

When Kudzu invades a place, it transforms the landscape into a seemingly endless sea of intertwining vines. The leaves engross across anything they touch and ingest all of the available sunlight, ultimately killing any life beneath it. This weed was brought to America almost 150 years ago and continues to recreate the southern landscape.