Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) grows to about 6 inches in height and bears purple, tubular flowers. It is a winter annual meaning that it sets seeds in summer or fall which drop to the ground and germinate in the fall. Then, it survives the winter as a small plant and starts growing again in the early spring. It is a member of the mint family and, therefore, has square stems.

 

As with most lawn weeds, the best control is to grow a healthy, vigorous turfgrass. A good layer of mulch such as shredded bark or wood chips will help manage weeds in the bed or border.

If cultural options do not provide enough control, several herbicides are also labeled for this weed, however, this one falls under the "difficult to control" lawn weeds and may be tough to eliminate.

 

Note: We have provided some general information and observations on this topic aimed at the home gardener. Before you take any serious action in your landscape, check with your state's land grant university's Cooperative Extension Service for the most current, appropriate, localized recommendations.

 
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