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Hops are primarily grown and harvested for use in making beer although historically they have been used as a medicinal herb, a spring vegetable and in many crafts. They are a very attractive vine in the home garden and an easy plant for the novice gardener.
Hops, Humulus lupulus, and Golden Hops, Humulus lupulus 'Aureus' grow to a height of 12 to 15 feet in full sun to partial shade. They bloom in mid-summer in various shades of green, chartreuse and sometimes cream/tan. The vine can be easily cut back and will die down in winter but come back every year from the roots. The plant is vigorous, easily vining over a trellis, but is not invasive like mint. If grown on pasture fences, livestock tend to leave it alone due to some spines on the stems. The rhizomes of the female hop plant produce the flowers. The rhizomes look like root cuttings but are actually stems and have buds growing from them. The buds will become new vines. Male plants are not as attractive and are not necessary to get flowers. Plants may be propagated from seed but require a period of dormancy to germinate. They are easily propagated from root cuttings or dividing the root ball.
Medicinal and Food Uses
Extracts and oils are used as flavorings in beverages, frozen desserts and other sweets like baked goods, candy and puddings. Extracts are used in lotions and creams and said to have skin-softening properties. “Modern research shows hop extracts relax smooth muscles, and is useful in combination with other herbs in the treatment of disorders such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Crohn’s disease and nervous stomach. The pollen from the strobiles can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people. [1]
Hops tea was a widely used sedative, digestive aid and an appetite stimulus. A heated poultice of leaves has been used for an earache, and modern herbalists make a pillow of warm hops. (See recipe below.) The stems were woven into baskets and also used to make a durable cloth and paper. Dried leaves and flower heads were boiled to make a brown dye.
“Hops contain two chemicals (humulone and lupulone) that can kill bacteria that cause spoiling. One study shows hops effective against tuberculosis bacteria, leading some credence to one of its traditional Chinese uses.” [2]
The young shoots of hops are eaten like asparagus and the young leaves blanched to remove bitterness and added to soups. Hops steeped in sherry are said to make a fine cordial for the stomach. I have heard you can add hops to sausages but haven’t found a recipe.
Gooseberries in Imitation of Hops
Preserved in syrup, these delightful counterfeit hop flowers are made from gooseberries, one of the most traditional English soft fruits of summer. Dating from the early Georgian period, the first printed recipe is found in Elizabeth Smith's The Compleat Housewife (London: 1727). Smith (rather dangerously) impaled her split gooseberries on thorns. Later writers like Mary Smith, Frederick Nutt and William Henderson wisely threaded them on cord with a needle, avoiding the possibility of dinner guests getting a thorn caught in their throats. [3]
4 cups Hop flowers 2 cups Bergamont 15 drops Lavender oil 2 cups Rose petals 5 ml Passion flower tincture
Mix the herbs, oils and tincture together in a bowl. Put into a cotton bag and use it as a pillow to help one relax and sleep. The Hops may be used by themselves, however they do have a strong hoppy odour. By adding alcohol to the hops, the volatile oils are more easily released. [1]
About Darius Van d'Rhys
I have a 'growing my own food' obsession that grew out of my overlapping interests in cooking, nutrition and gardening. I am also a teacher (but outside the System), a writer, and a builder… and a craftsperson and... and… and many other things, LOL. In fact, I guess I am a generalist.
I live in the southern Appalachian Mountains on a hillside with a creek in front and drive a 15 year old truck I lovingly call “My Farmer’s Ferrari.”
Posted by Melissande (from Chillicothe, OH) on July 15, 2008 at 9:06 PM:
This Yahoo Group (link below) is focused on growing hops and other brewing herbs. Almost all of the posts are hop-related, though. It is international in scope, but most of the members (well over 2200 as of July, 2008) are apparently from the USA. They have a rhizome exchange in the spring where the "haves" send in rhizomes for the "have-nots." The "haves" can also get some from the exchange if they wish. All that is required is postage. The exchange is done through a central distribution point.
This is not a general discussion group about brewing, and members are encouraged to stay on-topic on the subject of growing hops. For using hops, or other brewing related topics, see the second link below.
Posted by darius (from Marion, VA) on July 15, 2008 at 11:29 PM:
Interesting. Thanks!
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Subject: Great article!
Posted by Diandra (from Nashua, NH) on March 18, 2008 at 12:11 PM:
Thanks for the great article! We use hops as a privacy screen along our deck. Nice to know even more uses for the flowers!
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Posted by darius (from Marion, VA) on March 18, 2008 at 12:35 PM:
Glad you enjoyed it. Privacy screen makes good sense!
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Subject: Hops
Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on March 12, 2008 at 1:06 PM:
Good article i grew some one time in VA when i use to make my own Beer Paul H
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on March 12, 2008 at 3:24 PM:
I had no idea they were good for anything but beer--thanks for the interesting info, Darius.
Pretty plant, too!
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on March 14, 2008 at 6:24 PM:
Had no idea....new plant comin' up :) Thanks darius !!
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Posted by darius (from Marion, VA) on March 14, 2008 at 10:10 PM:
Thanks for the lovely comments, glad y'all enjoyed the article!
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Posted by Fitsy (from Hayesville, NC) on March 17, 2008 at 8:30 AM:
I'm pineing for a hops plant, but have put off
ordering from a catalog because I am afraid that
they'll send a male! Need I worry about that??
Fitsy
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Posted by darius (from Marion, VA) on March 17, 2008 at 10:46 AM:
From the article
Quoted:
The rhizomes of the female hop plant produce the flowers.... Male plants are not as attractive and are not necessary to get flowers.
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Posted by AyUpPetal (from West Mifflin, PA) on July 12, 2008 at 9:06 AM:
I got my hops plant from Companion Plants...they're great to deal with. Mine was slow the first year it was planted but this second year has taken off and grown like crazy! It's loaded with blossoms now and I'm looking forward to a big harvest to make lots of hops pillows with!
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Posted by darius (from Marion, VA) on July 12, 2008 at 9:54 AM:
Thanks, good to know! I just planted one I purchased locally (almost) from a herb farm. In the several days it has been in the ground, it has doubled in new growth.
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Subject: Enjoyed your article...
Posted by Bettypauze (from Victoria Harbour, ON) on March 12, 2008 at 10:56 AM:
I so enjoyed your article Darius..I've planted hops against the fencing and was surprised to see just just how much it grew last year..I also plant 4 plants on an arbor..I surely must have the male because there were not many rhyzomes.how could I tell...sure did love your arbor...
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Subject: interesting
Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on March 12, 2008 at 7:06 AM:
Interesting article although the 'gooseberries in imitation of hops' is puzzling (WHY?)
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Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on March 12, 2008 at 8:47 AM:
Thanks, darius. I won't be making any beer or sleep pillows, but I might use hops up a cattle fence panel to create a backdrop against the house for a bed that gets too hot. I notice you didn't tell us how to make beer though. Ha ha! It's just as well. :-) Good job!
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Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on March 12, 2008 at 8:59 AM:
Nice, Darius. I loved crushing the flowers and smelling them. I have to say mine were very aggressive and I had to remove them, which was not easy. The mass of primary roots that I dug up was the diameter of a truck tire. They were starting to wonder quite a distance. They would grow noticeably in one day! If uncle Joe fell asleep on my bench...
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Posted by LariAnn (from Miami, FL) on March 12, 2008 at 12:19 PM:
Thanks for this article! I was especially interested to know how hops can be used medicinally for IBS. Sometimes I need a calming tea and hops would be a good addition to a tea mix.
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Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 12, 2008 at 9:45 PM:
Darius, thanks. I enjoyed the article. I have seeds and I am so tempted to grow this plant. But I just don't know where to put it.
