Integrated Pest Management

Henbit

Lamium amplexicaule

Henbit

Henbit growth habit (Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org)

Henbit

Henbit flowers (Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

Henbit

Henbit seedling (Steve Dewey, Utah State Universit,  Bugwood.org)

 

Description

  • plant grows 4 – 12 inches tall and is covered sparsely in fine hairs
  • stems are square, typically purplish and branch at the base; leaves are round or heart shaped, arranged in pairs and have rounded teeth margins
  • prominent veins are recessed in leaf blades
  • flowers are small, dark pink and circle upper leaf axils
  • if studied carefully, flowers resemble tiny orchid blooms with a white face and dark red spots

Location

  • commonly grows in planting beds and lawn areas

Life Cycle

  • a winter annual with seeds that germinate in the fall although a lesser portion of seeds may also germinate in early spring
  • seedlings appear in early spring and flowers are produced by mid-spring to early summer (although some plants may flower in the fall)
  • foliage dies in hot summer temperatures

IPM Recommendations

  • Hand-pull plants in planting beds prior to seed maturation.
  • Shallow tillage or hoeing will control young plants in planting beds.
  • Apply a mulch layer 3 inches deep on planting beds to reduce seed germination.
  • Apply an appropriate pre-emergent herbicide prior to seed germination or apply an appropriate post-emergent herbicide directly to target weeds.