Seasonal Wild Flowers

Hop

Humulus lupulus

Cannabaceae

July to August

It is found throughout the country except for parts of

the North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Hop

It grows in hedges and open woodland.

It is difficult to distinguish between native Hop and

the cultivar introduced from Flanders in the 1500s for

flavouring beer.

Hop is a native, scrambling, perennial, dioecious

climber, growing up to 8m.

The male flowers on male trees are up to 5mm and

on much-branched stems.

Female flowers are in the bracts of loose spikes, which

grow to 2cm.

The fruits are light green cones, up to 3cm long.

Leaves are rough in texture, toothed and palmate.

Stems are wiry and roughly sticky.

Hop growing over a tree

Hop - male flowers

Female flowers

Close-up of female flowers

Young Hop fruits

Older Hop fruits

Leaves

4-sided, clockwise twining stems