How does kudzu harm native plants in the United States?

Kudzu (Pueraria montana) harms native plants in the United States primarily by acting as an aggressive invasive species that outcompetes local vegetation for essential resources.12

Because it is a fast-growing vine capable of extending up to 18 meters (60 feet) in a single season, kudzu spreads rapidly over trees and shrubs. This rampant growth creates a dense canopy that deprives native plants of necessary sunlight, often leading to the death of the plants it covers. By overrunning native flora and trees, kudzu effectively crowds out local species, which has earned it the nickname "the vine that ate the South."132