So sorry! That's never happened to my hops vines, but then mine have died a slow death, being overtaken by turk's cap. I only have one vine left, but I've ordered another one, and I'm pulling up a lot of turk's cap to give them room.
Whenever you have suddenly hot weather after a rain, some plants have a tendency to droop or die back on the top altogether, especially if you had a lot of rain, like we did here, and I imagine you did up your way. I've got some new passionvines that have drooped in the sudden heat, even had a sprig or two to die, but they're coming back. My experience is that the roots never die under these conditions, so I'm pretty sure they'll come back for you, Jeff.
Sherry

Interesting. That's probably the issue, then. We had 2.5" of rain Apr. 24 - 26, and then it was 86, 93, 89 on the 30th, 1st, and 2nd.

I was wondering whether it got hit with some chemical, though I have no reason to believe that.

I got 3.30" of rain here, then the temps were in the upper 80's, right now my thermometer is showing 88 degrees in the shade.
I just received my new hops vine - it's BIG - from Petals From the Past in Alabama. I also got a Phlox paniculata 'David' - I've always wanted to try tall phlox, but never got around to it, and I need a white plant somewhere in my garden.
Most tall phlox isn't supposed to do in the Gulf states - we'll see!
Sherry

Hey Sherry

I have been thinking about getting some Turk's Cap, but you have made a couple of comments lately that make me think you are getting really aggravated with it. Am I correct?

I know I rue the day I planted hummingbird vine. It has popped up all over and has yet to flower for me.

No, Nancy, I can't say I'm sorry I planted it, since it's SO popular with the hummingbirds, sulphurs and palamedes swallowtails, but it does get a little aggravating at times.
I've got some growing on the east side of the house, and we really enjoy watching hummers and butterflies using it while we eat and look out the window. The pluses are greater than the minuses. I'd plant it again.
Sherry

I had a hops vine once that died suddenly like that too. It never grew back either. I decided it must have gotten mildew or something. I never replanted another one because I was afraid it would siffer the same fate. There are a lot of diseases that can attack hops. I live in the steamy hot and humid area just north of Philly. Our summers can be awful.
Joann

Thanks Sherry! I think I'll give it a whirl as I am looking for something new and different to try!

I'm curious if you're talking about the same kind of hops vine that I have and think its an invasive vine. The leaves are sort of maple-leaf looking and the "trunk" is extremely strong and prickly, as are the leaves. its showing up all over our property (with many other invasives.) Just curious. I'm trying to make lemonade out of lemons with all these invasives, but its a real challenge!
If it is the same vine, what kind of butterflies use it?
Thanks!

It sounds like hops vines that you're talking about catherinet - I've read that they're invasive in some places, mostly up north. Maybe the heat limits them a bit down here, I don't know.
They're used by question marks and commas - also known as hops merchants - and they're supposedly used by red admirals, but they've never used mine, just my false nettles. I also find generalist moth cats on them from time to time.
Here's an old picture of a question mark laying eggs on my hops vines, so you can check out the leaves -
{{gwi:471322}}
And here's a picture of the top side of a question mark -
{{gwi:444250}}
Commas are smaller than question marks, but look almost identical.
Sherry

And here's an old picture of some question mark caterpillars - if you see these one your vines, congratulations!
{{gwi:471323}}
Sherry

Thanks Sherry!
Yes, your vine is the one we have. Its sort of bristley.
We have about 35 acres here and we've let it grow up for 30 years and we're getting all sorts of things growing.
I'm excited that this vine is good for something! Actually....just about everything is good for something, but we humans start viewing things as problems if they're in places we don't want them!
I'll keep my eye out for some cats on them. We also have a bunch of stinging nettle growing in the back yard. Boy, that stuff hurts! Is there a butterfly that likes that "weed"?
Thanks so much for your pictures!

Yes, stinging nettle is a host for Red Admirals.

So in my main butterfly garden, I found a small hops plant growing! Yea!

But ... is it common hops or Japanese hops? I've searched the net and don't have a definite conclusion. The leaves are either three-lobed or five-lobed, depending on how one counts lobes. And the petioles are approximately the same length as the leaf, rather than being longer than the leaf.

I'll post a pic when I can get one up.

Jeff

Hops vines are very vigorous, but so far, mine has not outgrown the area I planted it in. I, too, have the Golden Hops, which is very attractive in spring, but the leaves turn a rather dull green when the heat sets in. I have yet to find anything on mine, except for the generalist moths MissSherry mentions. In fact, if it does die back, I won't be that disappointed.

Hops do grow from rhizomes, and can easily, like most tubers, rhizomes and bulbs, easily be overwatered. But, on the other hand, they're pretty tough characters, too. I may put my Turk's Cap close by and let it take over now that you mention it, MissSherry.

I thought that Japanese Hops was an annual, unlike regular hops. But maybe it reseeds?

Catherinet, my suggestion to anyone who is growing, either by accident or intention, Stinging Hops, get rid of it and instead grow False Nettle, which does not have those awful stinging heirs.

I saw my first Question Mark today. She was virtually "living" on the banana feeder! I hope she lays eggs.

I've also collected a couple more cats from the False Nettle, and have 5 babies now. Saw the Red Admiral female flying around yesterday, so she may have layed more eggs.

Released my first Hackberry Emperor today. The caterpillars and chrysalis stage are a lot lengthier when the temps are cool like they have been.

Susan

Thanks for that tip Susan!