Japanese Wild Hops
Japanese Wild Hops
Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc.
Cannabaceae (Hemp Family)
▲ ▼ young vine on fence showing leaves
▲ ▼ mature, male plant covering a 10 foot x 10 foot area
▲ ▼ male vine with inflorescence
Japanese Hops, Wild Hops:
- an annual vine with opposite, palmately-5-lobed leaves, and downward-pointing stipules at base of leaf
- vine can grow 10-35 feet long in a growing season and climb by twining around objects
- stems and leaves are rough-textured
- plant is dioecious--separate male & female plants
- male plant has large panicle of greenish-white flowers
- female plant has hanging panicle of flowers and seeds in classic “hops" fruit shape (like a leafy pine-cone)
- found in fertile soils, cultivated fields, roadsides, stream-banks and non-crop areas
- is in the Cannabinaceae (Hemp Family)
- concern for it as an invasive, displacing weed is increasing