+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ## henbit deadnettle {#henbit-deadnettle .Title-Header}               |
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| *Lamium amplexicaule* L.                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = LAAM                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Nacogdoches (TX) Technical Office

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.667361111111111in"
height="4.000694444444444in"}

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Henbit, dead-nettle

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Henbit provides valuable erosion control in many cropland fields of the
southern U.S., though it is also treated as a weed throughout the U.S.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

This plant is considered to have invasive characteristics and be weedy
by several sources. Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State
Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status (e.g.
threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland
indicator values).

##### Weediness {#weediness .Header-3}

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and
may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please
consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service
office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding
its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS
Web site.

##### Description and Adaptation {#description-and-adaptation .Header-3}

Mint Family (Lamiaceae). Unlike many of its relatives, henbit does not
have a strong or distinctive odor. This introduced native of Europe and
the Mediterranean, is a cool season annual/biennial that reaches a
height of 6 to 15 inches. The plant has two types of leaves. The lower
leaves have petioles and are not associated with the flowers, while the
upper leaves are sessile (not stemmed) and located just below the flower
clusters. Both leaf types are similar in shape, being somewhat rounded,
incised, and opposite. Under a hand lens, the flower bracts are very
hairy. The zygomorphic flowers are small, usually purple, and to the
novice would appear to resemble a very small orchid. The stems are
square. It is very common in yards, parks, cropland fields, and
roadsides.

##### Control {#control .Header-3}

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county
weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it
safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control
method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to
provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty
the products and control methods named, and other products may be
equally effective.

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

Lee Davis, USDA NRCS Technical Office #2, Nacagdoches, Texas.

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

Lee Davis, USDA NRCS Technical Office #2, Nacagdoches, Texas.

##### Edited: 28sep05 jsp; 060802 jsp {#edited-28sep05-jsp-060802-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*