Perennial hops. Belongs to the hemp family and is found growing wild over large parts of Europe, Asia and eastern North America. It is very hardy and survives winters far up in the north part of Sweden.

Hops have been used since ancient times as a soothing and antiseptic medicine. It used to be grown on a large scale in Sweden - for 400 years, from the middle of the 15th century to the middle of the 19th century, it was even mandatory by law that Swedish farmers had to grow hops. Today it is grown above all as a ornamental plant and as a flavoring agent in beer. It is precisely the interest in beer brewing that has given hops a renaissance and nowadays it is once again grown commercially in Sweden.

Hops are dioecious with separate female and male plants. Only female plants have hop cones and medicinal properties.

Hops is a fast climber. It can grow 15–20 cm in a day and be up to six meters high. It prefers a sunny location with deep, nutrient-rich soil and must have something to wriggle around, such as stakes, trellises or strings. It always wind clockwise.

Hops can be easily propagated with root parts and cuttings.