Henbit
Broadleaf weed
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a low-growing winter annual in the mint family that carpets lawns, gardens, and fields with purple flowers in early spring. Gardeners and growers notice it because it turns bare or thin ground into a purple haze just as the season begins, often before other plants have broken dormancy.
How to identify it
Look for square, often reddish stems that branch at the base and grow upright to about 4 to 16 inches, sometimes sprawling near the ground. The rounded, scalloped leaves have prominent veins that give a crinkled look; lower leaves sit on short stalks while the upper leaves clasp the stem directly with no stalk. Small tubular flowers, pink to reddish-purple, cluster in the leaf axils near the stem tips. The roots are shallow and fibrous, so established plants pull up fairly easily.
Where it grows
Henbit thrives in lawns, flower beds, vegetable gardens, cropland, and any recently disturbed or thin soil, favoring moist, fertile ground with good sun. It germinates in cool fall weather, grows slowly through winter as a small rosette, then bolts and flowers from late winter into spring before dying back as heat arrives. It spreads only by seed, and a single plant can produce a large number of seeds that build up in the soil for future seasons.
Why it is a problem
In lawns and beds it competes with desirable plants for space, moisture, and nutrients, and its early vigor lets it crowd young turf and slow-starting seedlings. Because it sets seed quickly and abundantly, a small patch this year can become a heavy spring flush next year. It is not toxic and offers early forage for pollinators, but its dense, weedy growth is a nuisance where a clean stand is wanted.
How to manage it
The most effective approach is prevention: keep a dense, healthy lawn and cover bare garden soil with mulch so seeds cannot find open ground to sprout. Hand pull or hoe young plants in fall or late winter while they are small and before they flower, which stops seed from forming and refilling the soil; the shallow roots make this easy after a rain. Mowing at the right height and shading the soil with vigorous desirable plants suppresses new seedlings, and a layer of organic mulch several inches deep in beds smothers emerging weeds. Timing matters most, so act in the cool months when the plants are young rather than waiting until the purple bloom signals that seed is on the way.
Commonly confused with
Henbit is most often confused with purple deadnettle, which has triangular, stalked upper leaves that are often purple-tinged, and with ground ivy, a creeping perennial with round, stalked leaves that spreads by rooting stems rather than by seed alone.
General guidance for US lawns and gardens, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed identification and options specific to your area, contact your local Cooperative Extension office. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.