Humulus lupulus (Hop)

Common Name: Hop

Humulus lupulus, commonly known as Hop, is a hedgerow climber which flowers between July and September. The leaves are deeply divided with three to five lobes and are arranged opposite to each other. They are rough to the touch and have toothed margins.

THe flowers are green-yellow in colour. Male flowers grow in a loose branching group, whereas female flowers are catkins, shaped like a cone. The male and female flowers grow on different plants.

The female flower develops into the fruit which is cone-shaped and initially light green, turning to brown when it has ripened. It has a distinctive scent, a bit like garlic, apples and yeast.

Hop can be found across the UK apart from in some areas of Scotland, climbing hedgerows as well as trees and bushes in fens and riverbanks. As a climbing plant, hop helps create dense habitat in hedgerows and bushes, providing a small microclimate in the hedge and a valuable refuge for insects and nesting or roosting birds. The plant’s flower also provides nectar for insects.

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