Golden Hop (Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’) Has Yellow Leaves Spring to Autumn

Summary: Golden hop (Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’) is an ornamental hop vine cultivar that puts forth yellow leaves spring to autumn.

closeup of golden hop (Humulus lupulus 'Aureus'): Katrina Br*?#*!@nd (katrinket), CC BY SA 2.0, via Flickr

Golden hop (Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’) is an award-winning ornamental hop bine cultivar that produces maple-like yellow leaves spring to autumn and light green flowers during late summer and early autumn.

The Royal Horticultural Society recognizes Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’ as a reliable garden performer. In 1993, the society honored golden hop with an Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’ is the only hop plant to receive this prestigious mark of quality.

The common hop (Humulus lupulus) is a climbing, flowering perennial. The common hop comprises five varieties, each with different New or Old World native ranges. Humulus lupulus var. lupulus, from which ‘Aureus’ is cultivated, claims native homelands in Europe and western Asia and naturalized ranges in North America.

The common hop is classified as a bine because the plant climbs by way of long, twining stems. Bristly spines along the plant’s stem serve as climbing aids. Contrastingly, a vine depends upon tendrils for its climbing habit.

An underground stem, known as a rhizome (Ancient Greek ῥίζα, rhíza, “root”), puts forth new shoots in early spring. Humulus lupulus remains vigorous through autumn. Frost occasions plant dieback and signals the appropriate time for cutting back shoots close to the ground.

Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’ has an ultimate height of 4 to 8 meters (13.12 to 26.24 feet). The Royal Horticultural Society places golden hop’s spread at 1.5 to 2.5 meters (4.92 to 8.2 feet). Golden hop requires two to five years to reach ultimate height.

Golden hop plants put forth leaves in spring. Leaf color is a bright yellow that is reminiscent of Yellow Chartreuse, the distinctive, yellow-colored liqueur introduced in 1838 by the Grande Chartreuse Monastery in southeastern France. Leaves may acquire light greenish tinges as they mature. Glowing foliage contrasts dramatically with burgundy-colored stems.

Golden hop leaves have a maple-cut style, with three to five deep lobes. Leaves are coarsely serrated. Leaf length measures up to 15 centimeters (5.9 inches).

As a dioecious (Ancient Greek: δίς, dís, “twice” + οἰκία, oikía, “house”) species, the common hop puts forth separate male and female plants. Flowers on male plants bloom as drooping, whitish or yellowish green spikes known as catkins (Middle Dutch: katteken, “little cat”).

The female plant produces downward-hanging, pine-scented, yellowish green flowers. Female plants bear cone-shaped structures that are known as strobiles (Latin: strobilus, “pine cone”). Strobiles comprise overlapping bracts, or specialized leaves. Each bract harbors a fruit that contains a single, aromatic seed. Strobiles ripen in September and October.

Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’ thrives in moist, sunny landscapes. Sunlight requirements range from full sun in northern temperate zones to partial shade in subtropical zones.

Golden hop grows in moist, well-drained soils. Chalk, clay and loam are all acceptable soil types. Golden hop is tolerant of a range of pH levels, from alkaline to neutral or acidic.

The Chicago Botanic Garden showcases golden hop’s suitability for smaller landscape gardens with plantings in the seven-acre Regenstein Learning Campus. Two golden hop plants climb the west side of the open-weave fence that surrounds the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, located at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s north end. Plentiful moisture in the site’s highly alkaline soil and full sun account for the two bines’ floral abundance.

‘Aureus’ is a showy hop cultivar that enlivens private and public landscapes throughout its yellow-themed, above-ground lifespan.

closeup of golden hop (Humulus lupulus 'Aureus') in August, Coventry, West Midlands, western central England: Amanda Slater (amandabhslater), CC BY SA 2.0, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

closeup of golden hop (Humulus lupulus 'Aureus'): Katrina Br*?#*!@nd (katrinket), CC BY SA 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzyblue/690940576/

closeup of golden hop (Humulus lupulus 'Aureus'): Amanda Slater (amandabhslater), CC BY SA 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/pikerslanefarm/2778709968/

For further information:

“Golden Hop Vine.” Paghat > In the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl > Creepers & Vines.
Available @ http://www.paghat.com/hop.html

“Hops ‘Aureus’ Humulus lupulus.” Dave’s Garden > Guides.
Available @ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1153/

“Hops Humulus lupulus.” Chicago Botanic Garden > Plant Information Service.
Available @ http://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/hops

“Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus.’” Missouri Botanical Garden > Gardens & Gardening > Your Garden > Plant Finder.
Available @ http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j440

“Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus.’” Perennial Resource > Perennial Encyclopedia.
Available @ http://www.perennialresource.com/encyclopedia/view/?plant=1003

“Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’ (Common Hop).” Gardenia.net > Plant Types > Vines.
Available @ https://www.gardenia.net/plant/Humulus-Lupulus-Aureus-Common-Hop

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Available @ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=981

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Available @ http://www.perennials.com/plants/humulus-lupulus-aureus.html

“Humulus lupulus L. var. lupuloides E. Small common hop.” USDA NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service).
Available @ http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=HULUL

Johnson, Steve. “Chicago Botanic Garden Grows With $28M Learning Campus.” Chicago Tribune > Entertainment. Aug. 24, 2016.
Available @ http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-chicago-botanic-new-learning-center-ent-0825-20160824-story.html

Salontai, Alexandru; A. Roman; V. Felecan; Leon Sorin Muntean; Solovastru Cernea. “New Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Cultivars From Romania.” Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Clug-Napoca, vol. 15 (1985): 5-7.
Available @ http://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/193

Tenaglia, Dan. “Humulus lupulus L.” Missouri Plants > Green Flowers, Leaves Opposite or Whorled.
Available @ http://missouriplants.com/Greenopp/Humulus_lupulus_page.html

Ten Eyck, Laura; Dietrich Gehring. The Hop Grower's Handbook: The Essential Guide for Sustainable, Small-Scale Production for Home and Market. White River Junction VT: Chelsea Green Publishing, Inc., 2015.

“What’s in Bloom - September 15, 2016.” Chicago Botanic Garden > Visit > What’s in Bloom.
Available @ http://www.chicagobotanic.org/sites/default/files/pdf/inbloom.pdf

Woodie, Maria. “For Great Colorful Garden Foliage Try Golden Hop Vine.” Horticulture Magazine > Plants We Love.
Available @ http://www.hortmag.com/plants/plants-we-love/for-great-colorful-garden-foliage-try-golden-hop-vine