Sally Benson \u2014 November 18, 2015
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Okay, so we\u2019ve missed Oktoberfest. The steins are empty, the bratwurst is gone. No worry; there\u2019s always time for hops.<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, hop (Humulus lupulus; common hop) has a purpose other than flavoring your favorite brew. It\u2019s a somewhat surprisingly ornamental plant, easy to grow and hardy in zones 4 to 8. Known as a vine, it\u2019s technically a \u201cbine,\u201d a plant that relies on stiff hairs that line its very strong stems to help it climb. Unlike many sturdy vines, it\u2019s an herbaceous perennial that dies back to its cold-hardy crown in fall.<\/p>\n

Growing 15 to 20 feet (with a spread of about 3 to 6 feet), hop requires support to thrive. Trained on a trellis, a pergola or arbor, this \u2013 oh, let\u2019s just call it a vine \u2013 self-clinging vine sports dark green, strongly lobed, heart-shaped leaves that tend to remain clean throughout the season. Fall color is unremarkable, but come fall, it\u2019s not the leaves that provide the attraction.<\/p>\n

Hop is dioecious; male plants produce small, yellow-green catkins, while female flowers and the subsequent seeds are carried in unique, pinecone-like structures called strobiles. (It may take a new plant two to three seasons to flower.) These resemble the flowers of ornamental oregano (Origanum \u2018Kent Beauty\u2019 is a good example), although they lack the blush to purple coloring. Strobiles remain medium to rich green until fall, when they turn to tan or buff to golden brown. This is the time they\u2019re harvested and the seeds dried for use in beer production, but allowing them to remain is a much more civilized and ornamental strategy. They have a slight pine-like fragrance, which attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.<\/p>\n

Humulus is a member of the Cannabaceae (yes, that includes cannabis, but let\u2019s not go there) and is native to Europe and southwestern Asia as well as North America. So it\u2019s easily grown in soils ranging from average to rich, and it prefers partial to full sun. In very hot Southern locations, it\u2019s best to provide some shade. Regular watering is required for new plants, but once it\u2019s established, hop is relatively drought tolerant.<\/p>\n

Name: Humulus lupulus<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Trade name: American hop<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Hardiness: Zones 4 to 8<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Mature height: 15 to 20 feet<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Mature spread: 3 to 6 feet<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Classification: Vine or \u201cbine\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Landscape use: Grown on trellises, pergolas, arbors and other upright supports, the plants can be used to provide privacy or to screen unsightly structures<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Ornamental characteristics: Unique structures called strobiles resemble small, green pine cones; when mature, these turn buff to golden brown and, if not harvested for dried arrangements or to use in a home brewery, provide an additional season of interest<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Female plants can be propagated vegetatively. Because the plant is dioecious, at least one male plant should be included in a planting to allow the females to produce seed.<\/p>\n

Hop suffers from few pest and disease problems, but sensitive growers may suffer from hop: Contact dermatitis is possible, so it\u2019s wise to avoid contact with the skin.<\/p>\n

If your customers are game to try home brewing, hops can provide a homegrown ingredient for that special recipe. But the real value is in its unique ornamental presence.<\/p>\n

Cover and Photos: iStock | fotolinchen<\/em><\/p>\n

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Sally Benson \u2014 November 18, 2015 Okay, so we\u2019ve missed Oktoberfest. The steins are empty, the bratwurst is gone. No worry; there\u2019s always time for hops. Believe it or not, hop (Humulus lupulus; common hop) has a purpose other than flavoring your favorite brew. It\u2019s a somewhat surprisingly ornamental plant, easy to grow and hardy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[124,123,122,32],"class_list":["post-762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nursery","tag-american-hop","tag-common-hop","tag-humulus-lupulus","tag-plants"],"yoast_head":"\n