Humulus lupulus Golden Tassels - Hop

Humulus lupulus Golden Tassels (Diva) is a variety of hop that is interesting for its modest size, well suited to small spaces, and its superb golden foliage that does not burn in the sun. This small climbing plant, hardy and perennial, is also appreciated for its abundant and aromatic flowering. Its cones can be used in beer production, as well as in herbalism for their sedative and galactogenic properties. In the garden or on the terrace, the 'Diva' hop plant is perfect for beautifying and quickly hiding any unsightly support.

Humulus lupulus belongs to the Cannabaceae family, just like hemp and the hackberry. It is native to Europe, temperate Asia and northern Africa where it populates moist and humid places. It is a perennial herbaceous climber with a large fleshy root that regenerates its aerial vegetation every year and spends the winter dormant underground. Hops are a dioecious plant, meaning there are male and female plants. 'Golden Tassels', selected in England before 1995, is a female variety of small size.

The Golden Tassels hop plant develops herbaceous twining stems in spring that emerge from the slightly suckering base, quickly embracing any available support. Their growth is very rapid, reaching about 2.5 metres (8 feet) in a season. An adult plant will therefore occupy about 2.5 metres (8 feet) in height and 1 metre (3 feet) in spread. Their cross-section is quadrangular, and they bear beautifully cut leaves with 3 to 5 ovate, pointed, and dentate lobes. The yellow colour of the leaves is very pronounced in spring, then slightly tinged with chartreuse-green in summer. The female inflorescences appear in summer, from June to August depending on the climate. These are green catkins that will become, after pollination by a male plant, fruits called cones. The cones have an ovoid shape, a scaly appearance, and turn bronze-golden when ripe, covered with a fragrant and powdery resin called lupulin. They are usually harvested in September.

In ornamental gardens, the Golden Tassels hop plant is an excellent complement to a small climbing rose in yellow or white (Graham Thomas, Climbing Opalia), and pairs well with a robust clematis with blue flowers like Blue Angel. A small evergreen honeysuckle like Lonicera Copper Beauty, with flowers in shades of yellow to orange, will form an interesting association with this beautiful climber, compensating for its absence in winter while blooming alongside its foliage in summer. This small hop plant will give a second life to an old bush, conceal a tired garden shed or an unsightly small structure, and cover a terrace trellis or a wooden pergola with gold... The flowers, when picked in September, make beautiful dried bouquets. It can be easily grown in a large pot, as long as it is regularly watered and fertilised!

The female inflorescences, the cones, have been used to flavour beer since the 8th century. Previously, hops were only used to ensure the preservation of beer. Currently (despite modern preservation technologies), this tradition has remained for the slight bitterness and flavour that hops bring.