Know Your Weeds: Henbit

Welcome back to “Know Your Weeds,” where we explore the fascinating world of plants that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Today, we dive into henbit, a common yet beneficial weed that appears in many gardens and lawns. By understanding henbit’s life cycle, benefits, and potential drawbacks, you can make informed decisions about its place in your landscape.

Henbit Identification

Seed:

• Henbit seeds are small, oval, and light brown. They germinate best in cool, moist conditions, making early spring and fall the prime seasons for germination.

Germination:

• Henbit seeds sprout quickly under favorable conditions, producing seedlings with pairs of round to heart-shaped cotyledons.

Juvenile Plant:

• Young henbit plants form a basal rosette of leaves. The leaves are opposite, rounded, and have a scalloped margin. The stems are square and slightly hairy.

Mature Plant:

• A mature henbit plant reaches up to 16 inches tall. It has square stems and leaves that grow in pairs along the stem, becoming more triangular and deeply lobed as they ascend. Henbit produces small, tubular flowers that are typically pink to purple and bloom in early spring.
• The flowers grow in whorls at the top of the stem and are attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Death:

• Henbit is a winter annual, meaning it germinates in the fall, overwinters as a small plant, and then rapidly grows, flowers, and sets seed in early spring before dying in late spring to early summer. Control usually involves removing the plants before they set seed.

Benefits

Soil:

• Henbit helps prevent soil erosion by covering the ground during the winter and early spring. Its roots can help improve soil structure.

Humans:

• Nutritional: Henbit leaves and stems are edible and can be used in salads or cooked like spinach. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals.
• Medicinal: Henbit has been used in traditional medicine for its potential anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It is often used in teas and poultices to treat minor wounds and skin irritations.

Animals:

• Henbit is an important early-season food source for pollinators, especially bees. The flowers provide nectar and pollen at a time when few other plants are blooming.

Harms

• Henbit can become invasive in gardens and lawns, outcompeting other plants and forming dense mats.
• It can act as a host for certain pests and diseases that may affect other crops.

Uses and Harvesting

Uses:

• Culinary: Young henbit leaves and stems can be added to salads, soups, and stews. They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
• Medicinal: Henbit can be used in teas, tinctures, and poultices to treat minor skin irritations and wounds. It is also used for its potential anti-inflammatory properties.
• Agricultural: Henbit can be used as a cover crop to improve soil health and prevent erosion during the off-season.

Harvesting:

• Leaves and Stems: Harvest young, tender leaves and stems in early spring before the plant flowers.
• Flowers: Collect flowers when they are in full bloom for use in teas or as garnishes.

Sources

1. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources – Henbit Management
2. National Center for Biotechnology Information – Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
3. WebMD – Henbit
4. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service – Henbit

This article in the “Know Your Weeds” series explores the benefits and uses of henbit, a common yet valuable plant. Understanding its role in the ecosystem can help gardeners and farmers make informed decisions about managing henbit in their landscapes. Stay tuned for more insights into common weeds and their contributions to our environment!