3. Kudzu
With such an exotic name, you might have said that this is a pretty decorative plant and not one of the new invasive species that took over the United States. It was once an ornamental plant when it was first introduced in the early 1900s. It was brought from South America, and it is a member of the pea family.
It grows pretty fast, and it has some mesmerizing and fragrant purple flowers. Perfect for a decorative plant, right? Since Kudzu prefers warmer climates, its invasion of the Eastern Seaboard and later expansion to the west and north have been made possible by the general rise in temperature. Even more, as a result of climate change, the vine is also becoming a concern in the far northeast and the regions near the Great Lakes.
