Deadnettle, Purple Deadnettle

Lamium purpureum L.

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

young plant▲

flowering plants▲▼

close-up of flowering plants ▲▼

▲ flowers

▲ comparison of deadnettle flowers (right) with henbit flower (left)

Henbit and Deadnettle:

·         henbit:

o   winter annual with square stems opposite, rounded, lobed leaves

o   upright-pointing flowers

o   upper leaves join around the stems

·         deadnettle:

o   similar, with opposite, heart-shaped, somewhat lobed, fuzzy leaves

o   flowers held under leaves or in leaf axils

o   upper leaves do not join around the stems

o   is an alternate host for soybean pests

·         both germinate in mid to late fall, remain green through most of the winter, then resume growth and produce bright purple flowers in spring and are in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family

·         usually more of a problem in warm-season turf lawns instead of cool-season

·         prefer fertile, well-aerated soils, full-sun, but may grow in shade

·         best control with fall-applied pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicides