Hemp, botanically known as Cannabis sativa L., is distinguished from high-THC cannabis by its chemical composition, containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Visually describing the hemp plant helps understand its unique morphology, which is largely driven by its cultivation for industrial purposes like fiber, grain, or non-intoxicating cannabinoids.
Overall Growth Habit and Height
The overall appearance of a hemp plant is characterized by a tall, slender, and often sparsely branched structure. Unlike cannabis cultivated for flower, which is typically bushy and wide, industrial hemp prioritizes vertical growth to maximize stalk and seed production. This growth pattern is a direct result of how it is commercially planted, usually in high density with plants packed closely together in a field setting.
This dense planting forces the plants to compete for sunlight, which naturally suppresses lateral branching and encourages the development of a long, single main stalk. Fiber hemp varieties, for instance, are the tallest, commonly reaching heights between 8 and 14 feet. Hemp grown for grain or seeds, however, is often shorter and bushier, typically ranging from four to six feet in height.
Hemp plants can be dioecious, meaning they have separate male and female plants, or monoecious, possessing both male and female flowers on the same plant. Regardless of sex, the plant’s structure is optimized for height, producing a central column of growth that is structurally robust. The result is a field of uniformly tall, cane-like plants, a visual signature of industrial hemp cultivation.
Defining Features of Hemp Leaves and Stems
The leaves of the hemp plant are one of its most recognizable features, exhibiting a distinctive palmate or hand-like structure. Each leaf is composed of multiple leaflets that radiate from a central point, a design that efficiently captures sunlight for photosynthesis. While the number can vary, mature hemp leaves typically display seven to nine long, narrow leaflets, though younger plants may have fewer.
These leaflets feature serrated edges, often described as jagged or saw-toothed, which are prominent and generally curved toward the tip of the leaf blades. The overall coloration is usually a rich green, sometimes with lighter shades depending on the strain and growing conditions. Unlike high-THC varieties, hemp leaves tend to be long and slender, contributing to the plant’s overall wispy appearance.
The stem or stalk is a strong, cylindrical structure composed of long, fibrous bast fibers on the outside and a woody core, known as hurd, on the inside. This stalk is often hollow in the internodes, the sections between the points where leaves and branches emerge. The base is noticeably thick and sturdy to support the plant’s considerable height, providing a fibrous, textured surface.
Flower Structure and Density
The morphology of the hemp flower differs significantly from the dense, resin-heavy buds associated with high-THC cannabis. Hemp flowers are visually characterized as small, airy, and loose, lacking the compact structure referred to as “cola” in flower-focused cultivation. These flowers typically form in clusters around the nodes of the stem and branches, rather than consolidating into large, continuous flower masses at the top of the plant.
A key visual differentiator is the comparatively low density of resin and trichomes, the tiny glands that produce cannabinoids. While hemp flowers do have trichomes, they are far less visible to the naked eye, giving the flowers a less “frosty” or sticky appearance than high-THC varieties. This is because hemp is not bred to maximize cannabinoid concentration.
When grown for fiber or seed, the plant’s energy is directed toward vertical growth and stalk development, limiting resources for dense flower production. This results in smaller, less developed flowers concentrated towards the plant’s apex and along the main stem. The overall impression is one of a plant prioritizing structural integrity over the development of large, bushy floral clusters.