The casual eye sees only green leaves in a stand of kudzu but mature plants produce flowers at the end of summer. They grow upward at the axillary region between the stem and leaf, and are almost always hidden beneath the dense leaf cover. The flowers are clusters of deep purple blossoms on short stalks from an elongated center stem, similar to a cluster of grapes. The blossoms have the delightful aroma of ripe grapes. Seeds Seedpods, somewhat similar to soybean pods, appear as the flowers are fading, and mature in the fall.
Few pods contain seeds.
Even mature seeds do not sprout readily. Scratching the seed's surface before planting may increase the chances of sprouting. The pods drop from the vine about the same time as the leaves. Kudzu and the black eye pea, prized for bringing good luck to those who eat it on NewYear's Day, are cousins. The black eye pea was firmly rooted in the traditions of the Southeast long before kudzu arrived in the United States from Asia.