City of Knoxville leaders hope to weed out invasive 'kudzu' species

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]New tonight, a state grant is helping leaders with the city of Knoxville get the root of invasive plants, right there on your screen, known as kudzu, out. No better example than right there along Chapman Highway. 10 News reporter Olivia Dag explains the goal of erasing that plant from our landscapes across the city.

[00:00:23]City leaders say they're weeding out the so-called vine that ate the South the same way they got rid of kudzu at the South Waterfront. And if this goes well, they're hoping to root out more invasive species across town.

[00:00:36]It's an unofficial landmark on Chapman Highway. I think people understand that it's different, but maybe they don't know why it's negative. The so-called wilderness or jungle arbors looks lush and exotic, but in reality, it's a reminder of a sprawling problem.

[00:00:52]>> Kudzu is really fast growing, and so, um, unless it's completely removed from a site, it can spring back relatively easily. John Shelton Sarabia, a botanist, says kudzu grows quickly, up to a foot a day.

[00:01:07]It's part of the reason it was brought here from South Asia. We brought it over in the mid, um, 20th century, um, as a form of erosion control. But now it's taken over acres of land and killed native species. It's affecting the health of the habitat and everything.

[00:01:21]Rachel Butscher with the city of Knoxville says they've tried to remove it before with herds of goats. But all they do is they eat the foliage that's growing above the ground, and they don't get to the root system. Now the city is taking an $80,000 state grant to kill the plants with herbicide starting at Fort Dickerson Park.

[00:01:39]>> We're going to treat in city property, but then with the state funding, we'll be able to also work with the property owners and hopefully tackle the kudzu on their property. With the removal, this botanist says other trees, plants, and animals will come back.

[00:01:52]>> So, you may see interesting plants that you probably haven't seen here in the last 20 years because it's been smothered out by kudzu. Many agree they don't want this vine taking root in Knoxville's future.