We’re frequently asked, “What are the weeds with purple flowers called?”. A few weed species come to mind, but Henbit and Dead Nettle are the most common. Both are types of Dead Nettle – plants that resemble Stinging Nettle but don’t produce the same, spicy nettles (hence, the Dead Nettle name). Let’s discuss the Henbit description first.

Henbit is a leafy, green (sometimes greenish-purple) plant with tubular, purple flowers and square stems. Its leaves can be slightly hairy and grow in pairs opposing one another. Small and loosely fan-shaped, with scalloped edges, the leaves can be found populating entire stems rather than just the plant’s base. Leaves toward the base often grow from longer stems so they can reach the sun, while leaves growing near the top will hug closer to the stem (allow sun and water to reach below).

Henbit flowers grow where leaves meet the stems, but near the top, they’ll often gather into a whorl-shape angled toward the sky. The flowers somewhat resemble Snapdragons with one large petal on top and two smaller petals on the bottom. Sometimes spotted inside with dark purple, they can be quite striking. Stamens produce bulbous, deep purple tops.

Like Purple Dead Nettle, Henbit is a type of Dead Nettle. Purple Dead Nettle weeds with purple flowers can closely resemble Purple Henbit flowers. Purple Henbit is often confused with its Purple Dead Nettle cousin, so let’s discuss some key differences.

While Henbit leaves are more like fans, Dead Nettle leaves more closely mimic that of mint (spear-shaped and angular). Often, leaves closer to the top of Purple Dead Nettle will actually take on a shade of purple (hence including the color in the name). One last difference to look for when it comes to identifying Purple Dead Nettle vs Henbit are the leaf stems. If the leaf stems turn more purple toward the stalk, you’ve probably found Purple Dead Nettle (Purple Nettle).

Henbit will take over your yard, if provided the opportunity, and is difficult for homeowners to eradicate without killing grasses as well. To prevent Henbit or any nettle from showing up, keep your lawn green and healthy with an adequate lawn care program that includes thatch removal, aeration, overseeding, fertilization – where necessary, proper mowing, and deep watering at infrequent intervals. Lush, green lawns grow high and thick, and don’t allow for the growth of weeds.

If discovered when small, you may choose to hand-pull Henbit weeds out at the roots the second you notice them sprout. For larger areas of Henbit, a professional approach with the proper tools and Henbit weed killer or Henbit herbicide may be your best bet.

If you have mature Henbit plants or wide areas of Henbit growth, you’re likely experiencing a Henbit lifecycle that will continue itself unless fully eradicated. Many in your position wonder how to get rid of Henbit weed. A multi-step approach may be needed to fully eradicate Henbit weed plants from your property, as seeds often lay dormant underground in the heat.

The best Henbit killer you have at your disposal is a Senske Lawn Care professional. Our experts understand Henbit identification, locate problem nettle areas, diagnose reasons behind your Henbit growth, and apply proven approaches to help you get rid of Henbit weeds in your lawn. More than that, we’ll tell you the proper steps to take so you can stop the weeds from taking root again.