What is Henbit and How Do I Control It?

Henbit is a common annual weed that can be found in most areas of the U.S. Unfortunately, once it gets into your lawn, it can be a real challenge to remove. Not only does henbit take advantage of moist areas where your lawn may be a wee bit thin, but each plant can produce a whopping 2,000 seeds that can easily take root and make your life miserable if you don’t do something about it. Don’t worry, though – we can tell you just what you need to do to control henbit.

Here’s a bit of trivia for you: Henbit got its name because chickens like to eat it. Often confused with both dead nettle and ground ivy (a.k.a. creeping Charlie), henbit boasts stems that are square and either green or purplish, and grows to between 5 and 11 inches tall. The leaves are either heart-shaped or round, and have scalloped edges or rounded “teeth" with prominent veins on their undersides. Come springtime, the weed begins producing small lavender flowers. Henbit happily invades thin, weak lawns and can be tough to remove once it takes hold, since it does just fine in a wide range of soils and growing conditions. You can often spy it making inroads under trees and shrubs in the yard, where grass has a hard time growing.