Hop
Humulus lupulus · Cannabaceae
📷 No machine-readable author provided. Rasbak assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Les cônes sont toxiques surtout pour les chiens ; leur ingestion peut provoquer halètement, forte hausse de température, convulsions et, rarement, décès. Le principe toxique reste inconnu.
The gardener's calendar
Hop is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Family
- Cannabaceae
- Plant type
- Perennial climbing plant
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- July to September
- Adult height
- Up to 6 meters
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -20°C)
- Origin
- Temperate Europe and Western Asia
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Hops spread vigorously and get heavy in summer. Install a sturdy support (trellis or wire) right when you plant.
The common mistake
Letting it grow without support: it tangles with itself, becomes a nightmare to harvest, and weakens.
The pro's trick
Pick your hop cones in August-September when they smell amazing and feel crispy to the touch—that's your golden window.
Care
Exposure and climate
Hops thrive in full sun, with a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. They enjoy temperate regions and tolerate harsh winters well. Plant them in an open location where they can flourish without competition.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season (May to September) to keep the soil moist but well-drained. In summer, two to three waterings per week may be necessary depending on conditions. Gradually reduce watering in autumn and limit it in winter.
Soil and planting
Hops prefer rich, well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline to neutral. Enrich the soil with compost or well-decomposed manure before planting. Ensure good depth (at least 30 cm) as the roots spread considerably.
Pruning and training
Cut back hops to ground level each winter (February-March), as they regrow vigorously in spring. Install a sturdy support system of stakes or wires from the start to guide vertical growth. Pinch back the shoot tips regularly early in the season to encourage dense branching.
Feeding
Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring when vegetation starts. During active growth, a potassium-rich fertilizer promotes better flowering and more abundant cone production. Add more if needed in summer depending on plant vigor.
Diseases and pests
Hops can be affected by powdery mildew and aphids, especially in humid conditions. Ensure good air circulation by regularly clearing the stems. In case of fungal attack, quickly remove affected parts and improve foliage aeration.
Did you know?
Hops have been cultivated since the Middle Ages as a seasoning and beer preservative, with their bitter and aromatic cones remaining essential to global brewing. Historically, it is one of the rare plants that transformed European agricultural economy: before the 15th century, other herbs (gruit) were used to flavor beer, until hops revolutionized brewing production.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Nettle treeCeltis australis
- HackberryCeltis occidentalis
- HempCannabis sativa
- Trema micranthumTrema micranthum
- Celtis laevigataCeltis laevigata
- Japanese hopHumulus scandens
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.