SEPT-OCT 2017 – Prior to prohibition, common hops, Humulus lupulus, were grown in Connecticut by folks brewing their own beer. Some of these may have survived in the wild, but may be confused with the invasive Japanese hop, Humulus japonicus.
If common hops were found growing locally, they could possibly be more resistant to diseases (e.g., downy mildew) than cultivated varieties. Target breeding this disease resistance into a domesticated variety could reduce pesticide use for locally grown hops.
The species are easy to distinguish as common hop leaves are three-lobed or non-lobed while Japanese hops have 5-7 (sometimes 9) lobes.
If you find any common hops, please provide Dr. Jim LaMondia (James.LaMondia@ct.gov) with a pressed sample/ photo and good directions. This would be a great help to Connecticut’s growing hop and local brewing movements.
