Henbit: The Purple Flower Weed
Ok we’ll admit it, a little bunch of henbits are irresistible when brought by a well-meaning child saying, “I love you. Look what I picked just for you!” But seeing this weed in the yard is a constant reminder of how tall and “pretty” weeds can grow!
What is henbit? What does it look like?
Henbit is a winter annual weed that we can count on coming up every year, earlier than dandelion. You can identify them by the square stems and pink and purple flowers and they can grow up to 16 inches tall. Their leaves are dark green and have scalloped edges.
How do you treat henbit?
Henbit tends to pop up in early March, so chances are if you don’t see it by now, you won’t. But if you already have them, the best control is to just yank em up. If you have a lot, we recommend treating with a post-emergent herbicide. You can also simply wait until temps rise and they will die as they are winter annuals.
How do you prevent henbit?
To prevent them from coming up at all, we recommend mulching and applying a pre-emergent treatment in the spring.
Here’s an overview of henbit:
Type: Broadleaf
Appearance: Spreading about 12 inches tall; dark green, scallop-edge leaves
Life Cycle: Winter annual
Where it Grows: Lawn or gardens in sun or shade
Reproduces by: Seed
How to Prevent: Mulch gardens; use pre-emergent in spring
How to Remove: Treat with a post-emergent herbicide