The plant known as hops, Humulus lupulus, is a vigorous climber most famous for its use as a flavoring and preservative agent in beer. This hardy perennial rapidly sends up new shoots each spring, giving the plant an aggressive growth habit. The nature of its climbing mechanism often leads to misunderstandings about its botanical classification.
The Definitive Answer: Hops are Bines
The long, annual shoots of the hop plant are correctly identified as bines, a term that distinguishes them from true vines. This classification stems from the plant’s unique method of upward growth, which relies on the strength of its main stem rather than auxiliary structures. As an herbaceous perennial, the above-ground growth dies back completely each autumn, but the plant remains alive through a root structure called a crown or rhizome. Each spring, this underground rootstock sends up multiple new bines capable of immense vertical expansion in a single growing season.
The Physical Distinction Between Bines and Vines
A bine climbs by wrapping its entire stem helically around a support structure, such as a pole or a string. This technique does not involve specialized grasping appendages separate from the main stalk. The stem of the hop bine is armed with numerous stiff, downward-pointing hairs (trichomes or setae) which function as anchors. These rough hairs firmly grip the support surface, preventing the plant from sliding back down as it coils upward.
Conversely, a true vine, such as grape or ivy, relies on specialized organs to climb. Vines possess thin, flexible structures like tendrils, which sense contact and coil tightly around an object. Other vines may use aerial roots or sticky suction cups, but all share the characteristic of having separate, non-stem-based tools for attachment.
Managing the Vertical Growth
The hop plant’s unique bine structure allows it to achieve remarkable heights and necessitates specific cultivation techniques. In optimal conditions, a single bine can grow as much as 12 inches in a day, quickly reaching its mature height of 15 to 25 feet during the growing season. Commercial hopyards use tall trellis systems, often featuring poles and coir twine, and growers must manually “train” the young bines onto the support strings early in the season. The hop bine is genetically programmed to coil only in one direction, known as dextrorse, or clockwise, around its support. This height is necessary for the plant to mature and produce the female cones used in brewing, and the entire bine is typically cut down at harvest time to facilitate picking.