How To Identify & Control Henbit

Understanding Henbit In Your Lawn

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is one of those sneaky weeds that seem to pop up out of nowhere just when your lawn is starting to bounce back. This fast-growing member of the mint family is a cool-season annual that shows up in late fall or early spring, thriving in lawns, garden beds, and neglected spaces. With its sprawling growth habit and ability to spread quickly, henbit can take over thin or patchy turf before you know it.

Come learn the easiest ways to spot this unique-looking weed so you can get control of it quickly and restore your turf!

Henbit stands out among common weeds due to its structure and color. Its square stems are a giveaway that it belongs to the mint family, and those stems grow upright, branching outward and sometimes reaching more than a foot tall. Along the stem, you'll find pairs of rounded leaves that clasp the stem directly, meaning they don’t have individual stalks. These leaves have scalloped edges and often appear with a slight purplish hue, particularly as temperatures drop.

In bloom, henbit produces delicate purple or pink flowers that resemble tiny trumpets. These flowers form in whorled clusters near the top of the plant and attract bees and other pollinators. They’re small, typically no more than half an inch long, and have a distinct tubular shape with a split-lip appearance: two lobes on the top and three on the bottom.

What To Look For:

• Square, mint-like stems
• Paired leaves that wrap the stem directly
• Rounded, scalloped leaf edges with a purple tint
• Fine hairs on the foliage, especially on lower leaves
• Clusters of tubular flowers in pink or purple shades
• Two prominent hooded flower petals

Henbit often gets mistaken for its close relative, purple deadnettle (pictured above), and it’s easy to see why. Both have similar flowers, square stems, and grow in the same seasons, but there are subtle differences. Purple deadnettle has leaves with short stems and a more triangular shape, and the upper leaves often appear deep purple. Henbit’s leaves, on the other hand, are rounder, unstalked, and generally stay greener. Looking closely at how the leaves are arranged and colored can help you distinguish between the two.

Understanding how henbit grows makes it easier to fight. Since it’s a winter annual, its seeds wait until late summer or fall to sprout. From there, it slowly develops over the winter and hits full stride in early spring.

• Fall Germination: Seeds sprout in cooler weather, often after summer ends. Moisture and falling soil temperatures trigger the process.
• Seedling Stage: Young henbit plants start with tiny leaves, quickly forming a rosette of heart-shaped foliage that will overwinter.
• Winter Dormancy: The rosette persists through winter, preparing to shoot upward when temperatures rise.
• Spring Growth & Bloom: In spring, henbit takes off, growing fast and forming flowers that lead to prolific seed production.
• Seed Dispersal: Each plant can release hundreds or even thousands of seeds, which fall nearby or are carried by wind, water, or animals.
• Plant Death: Once seed production finishes, the plant dies off by late spring, but its seeds remain viable for years, lying in wait for the next cool season.

Henbit’s ability to germinate early and spread quickly gives it a strong competitive edge over lawn grass. Its roots form a shallow, fibrous network with a small taproot that efficiently pulls moisture and nutrients from the soil. In areas with compacted or thin turf, henbit thrives, crowding out your grass and forming unsightly mats. If left unchecked, this weed can weaken your lawn’s health and make recovery more difficult in the warmer months.

Although henbit is a nuisance, it’s manageable, especially if you catch it early. Because it’s an annual, it doesn’t form deep roots, making mechanical removal possible in small areas. For larger infestations or repeated problems, a layered strategy that includes cultural practices and herbicides works best.

• Pull by Hand: Remove individual plants before they flower. Shallow roots make them relatively easy to pull.
• Mow Early and Often: Frequent mowing in early spring can reduce henbit’s ability to flower and reseed.
• Apply Post-Emergent Herbicide: Use a selective broadleaf herbicide containing 2,4-D, dicamba, or MCPP to eliminate larger infestations.
• Apply Pre-Emergent in Fall: Prevent germination by using a pre-emergent herbicide in early fall before seeds sprout.
• Aerate and Overseed: Reduce bare patches by overseeding your lawn and aerating to improve soil health and density.
• Fertilize in Fall: Feeding your grass before winter strengthens roots and helps it outcompete henbit seedlings.

If henbit is starting to take over your yard, don’t wait for it to get worse. A little prevention in the fall and early action in spring can make all the difference. Reach out to us here at Merrill for tailored solutions that keep henbit and other invaders off your turf for good!