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Humulus lupulus

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
HUM-uh-lus lup-OO-lus
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The Common Hop is a perennial, herbaceous, twining vine native to Europe. It has naturalized in North America and may persist up to 20 years. At the end of the growing season, this plant will die back, leaving its roots to form the next years' growth. The stems can to cut back once the plant has died.

Having male and female flowers on separate plants, this plant is dioecious. The female flowers are formed in clusters at the tips of the plants stalks, from the leaf axils and at the branch tips. Each 3/4" cluster can have 10 to 50 pairs of flowers, each enclosed by a green/yellow bract. They are blunt at their tips and have yellow glands at their base. Female flowers have no petals but do have 2" long styles.  

Male flowers also form in clusters, however they differ from the female flowers. Male flowers form in clusters with up to 100+ flowers, each have 5 spreading sepals and 5 short stamens. The tips are dotted with yellow glands.  

In order to produce seeds, both male and female plants are required. Flowers are wind pollinated.

The leaves are mostly opposite, palmately 3-7-veined and usually 3-lobed.

Fruits appear in an elongated cluster, each small, dry, and enclosed in a sac-like, papery bract. This vine is drought tolerant and needs good drainage.

It is grown commercially for its seeds, which are dried and used as a flavoring in the production of beer.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease issues.  Contact with skin can cause dermatitis in some.  A supporting structure such as a fence, wall, trellis or pergola is necessary to allow the plant to climb.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aureum'
  • 'Aureus'
    Deeply lobed bright chartreuse foliage in spring.
'Aureum', 'Aureus'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#medicinal#climbing#accent plant#herbaceous#well-drained soil#twining#climbing vines#herbaceous vine#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#naturalizes#screening#edible garden#naturalized area#twining vine#vine#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for dogs#perennial vines#climber#butterfly garden#long lived
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aureum'
  • 'Aureus'
    Deeply lobed bright chartreuse foliage in spring.
'Aureum', 'Aureus'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#medicinal#climbing#accent plant#herbaceous#well-drained soil#twining#climbing vines#herbaceous vine#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#naturalizes#screening#edible garden#naturalized area#twining vine#vine#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for dogs#perennial vines#climber#butterfly garden#long lived
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Humulus
    Species:
    lupulus
    Family:
    Cannabaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Extract from the fruit bracts are used as a flavoring in the production of beer.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    US native, Europe to Siberia and N. Iran, Morocco
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC. ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX. UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
    Wildlife Value:
    Butterflies are attracted to the flowers. Host plant for the Red Admiral and Question Mark.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Edibility:
    Fruiting cones used for brewing beer.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Vine
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Cone-like elongated cluster, each small, dry, enclosed in a sac-like, papery bract. They are used in making beer.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Male and female flowers bloom from mid-summer to fall. The small flowers are fragrant. Female flowers have thread like styles and no petals, while the male flower has 5 sepals and stamens. Flowers can have a hint of pine or citrus fragrance.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Mostly opposite, palmately 3-7-veined and lobed foliage. Leaves range from 1 to 6" long and wide. While the upper side of the leaves is hairless, the underside has soft hairs along the veins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The Green stems are branched. Scattered hairs along the stem face downwards and are used by the plant to grab onto other vegetation or structures to climb.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Problem for Dogs
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Skin irritation with blisters upon contact. Dogs: panting, high body temperature, seizures, death.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Volatile oils and bitter acids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves