Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) - How to Grow & Care Guide

Plant Snapshot

Common Name: Henbit
Latin Name: Lamium amplexicaule
Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 3–10
Typical Height: 4–12 in (10–30 cm)
Typical Spread: 6–12 in (15–30 cm) where allowed to form mats
Bloom Period: Late winter to spring (regional variation common)
Soil Preferences: Prefers well drained soils but tolerates a wide range from sandy to clay; neutral to slightly acidic pH typical
Light Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. Flowers best with more sun but tolerates shade
Toxicity: Not widely reported as poisonous to people or common pets. Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset in sensitive individuals. Handle with care if you have plant sensitivities
Propagation: Primarily by seed, readily self seeds. Hand sowing possible and small patches can be removed by pulling seedlings

Key Facts

A low growing member of the mint family usually treated as a winter annual
Produces small tubular pink to purple flowers in late winter and spring
Leaves are opposite, rounded to heart shaped with scalloped edges
Common in lawns, gardens and disturbed soils and readily self seeds
Valuable early nectar source for bees and other pollinators
Spreads primarily by seed and can form matlike colonies
Tolerates a wide range of soils and light conditions

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a low growing member of the mint family that appears as a winter annual and produces small tubular pink to purple flowers in late winter and spring. It commonly grows in lawns, bare soil and disturbed areas and self seeds readily.

Identification

Henbit is a low mint with opposite, rounded to heart shaped leaves that have scalloped edges and a distinctive square stem. Plants reach about 4 to 12 inches tall and produce small tubular pink to purple flowers on short spikes in late winter and spring. Colonies can form matlike patches where seed accumulates.

Where to grow and best uses

Henbit establishes readily in lawns, garden beds and disturbed soils and tolerates a wide range of soils and light from full sun to partial shade. Use it deliberately only in informal, naturalized areas where early nectar for bees is welcome. It is usually treated as a winter annual rather than a planted ornamental.

Planting time and spacing

Henbit behaves as a winter annual and typically appears with cooler weather and flowers from late winter into spring. It spreads mainly by seed so allow roughly 6 to 12 inches or 15 to 30 centimetres if you want plants to form mats. For control, avoid letting plants go to seed and remove seedlings as they appear.

Soil, light and watering

Plants tolerate a wide range of soils from sandy to clay and prefer reasonably well drained sites. Henbit flowers best with more sun but grows in part shade. Established plants need little supplemental watering in average garden soils. Very wet or poorly drained conditions reduce vigor and lead to patchy growth.

After‑flowering care and propagation

Henbit reproduces primarily by seed and will self seed readily. Remove plants or pull seedlings before they set seed to prevent larger patches. Where allowed to seed, it will naturalize and return the following season. Hand pulling is effective for small patches while preventing seed set is the most reliable long term control.

Controlling spread

Control focuses on interrupting the seed cycle because spread is mainly by seed. Pull seedlings before flowers develop and discard plants to avoid returning seed to the bed. Maintaining dense turf or mulch and addressing bare soil will reduce new seedlings. Persistent patches often reflect repeated seed rain or chronic disturbance.

Value to pollinators

Henbit provides an early nectar source for bees and other spring pollinators when few other flowers are available. This ecological benefit must be balanced against its tendency to self seed and form mats in turf and beds. Consider leaving small, controlled patches in naturalized areas to support pollinators.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Henbit grow?: Henbit establishes quickly from seed and can form noticeable mats within a single season when conditions are favorable, since it produces many seeds and volunteers easily.
When does Henbit bloom?: Henbit typically flowers in late winter to spring, often from February through May in many temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, though exact timing varies by climate.
Is Henbit poisonous?: Henbit is not widely reported as poisonous to people or common pets. Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset in sensitive individuals. Verify safety with a poison control authority before assuming it is safe around children or pets.
Will Henbit kill other plants?: Henbit does not kill established large plants but can form dense mats or heavy seedling layers that compete with seedlings and small bedding plants, especially in bare or disturbed ground.
How do I remove Henbit from my lawn?: Remove by hand pulling before seed set for small patches. Regular mowing and maintaining dense turf reduce seedling establishment. For larger infestations focus on preventing plants from setting seed in spring.