Henbit Does Not Refer to the Actions of a Rabid Chicken

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is starting to flower in lawns, roadsides, and sunny disturbed habitats. Long-tongued bees and European honey bees (Apis mellifera) pollinate its pink, tubular flowers. Warm days allow Henbit to form open (chasmogamous) flowers with nectar, while cooler days lead to more closed (cleistogamous) flowers that will self-pollinate. This introduced weed comes from Africa and Eurasia but you can find it across much of North America today. As you may know from personal experience, once Henbit becomes established in a yard, it can be quite hard to eradicate. It forms dense stands and each plant produces hundreds of seeds that form a considerable seed bank. Hand pulling and frequent mowing before flowers mature are some chemical-free means of control.

Henbit is an easy to identify wild edible. So while you’re pulling it out of your garden, feel free to munch on some of its stems and leaves. Like other members of the mint family, it has square stems. The leaves have rounded teeth and the upper leaves lack a petiole (leaf stalk) and wrap tightly around the stem. The specific epithet of the scientific name - amplexicaule - refers to this trait. It means “clasping the stem” in Latin.

Henbit has a nutty flavor and some people add it to salads or make pesto. The best tasting plants can be found when it’s not in bloom, from late fall through mid-winter. Once it warms up in spring, this winter annual dies off but it’s sure to return with cooler temps in late fall.