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Lamium amplexicaule

Image of Lamium amplexicaule

Family

Lamiaceae

Botanical Name

Lamium amplexicaule

Plant Common Name

Henbit, Henbit Deadnettle

General Description

The small purplish tubular flowers of henbit look pretty close up but otherwise this cool-season annual or biennial weed is a garden nightmare. Eurasian in origin, it is an aggressive invasive spreader than plagues lawns, vegetable beds and roadside meadows, especially in eastern North America.

The four-sided purplish stems of henbit sprawl horizontally but turn upwards at the tips. Opposite pairs of green hairy leaves kissed with purple line the stems. The round leaf surfaces are hairy and crinkled. Small clusters purplish pink flowers appear at the stem tips among the whorls of new leaves when temperatures are cool but above freezing. When drought or summer heat intensifies, henbit dies away only to return when the seeds germinate in fall, winter or early spring.

Henbit prospers in any cool, moist soil and withstands both shady and sunny conditions. The weak fibrous root systems are easy to pull up, but the stems root when in contact with soil making it challenging to weed out whole plants. Henbit persists in the lawn because mower blades fail to cut the horizontal stems that nestle among the turf. Pre-emergent herbicides and mulch are the best preventative measures for control of henbit.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 1

  • Plant Type

    Annual

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade

  • Height

    3"-12" / 7.6cm - 30.5cm

  • Width

    12"-24" / 30.5cm - 61.0cm

  • Bloom Time

    Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter

  • Native To

    Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Northern Africa, Central Asia, Western Asia

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Average

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Prostrate/Trailing

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Hot Pink, Fuchsia, Violet

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green, Purple, Gray Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green, Purple, Gray Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green, Purple, Gray Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Green, Purple, Gray Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    Yes

  • Fragrant Foliage

    Yes

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    Yes

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Semi-Evergreen

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    Yes

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes