Field Facts: Henbit
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Henbit germinates in the fall, overwinters as a green plant and begins growing again in early spring. This weed can act as a host for many insect and disease pests, and mature seeds can survive in the soil seedbank for several years.
- Common names: Henbit deadnettle, henbit nettle, blind nettle, bee nettle, giraffe head, greater henbit
- Scientific name: Lamium amplexicaule
- Cotyledons: Oval-shaped
- Leaf shape: Circular to heart-shaped, with hairs on the upper leaf surfaces and along the veins of the lower surface
- Stems: Green or often purple-tinged
- Reproduction: Reproduces by seed
- Flowers: Pink or purple; flowers occur in whorls in the upper leaves and are fused into a tube ⅔ inch long.
Fast Facts on Henbit:
- Henbit is native to Eurasia and northern Africa and arrived in North America in the 1700s in livestock feed.
- Henbit is a member of the mint family. But unlike many of its relatives, henbit does not have a strong mint odor.
- Henbit thrives in rich, fertile soils, but it also can grow in light sandy soils.
- Michigan State University Extension states that henbit seeds can remain viable for 25 to 40 years.1
- Although not a big threat to yield, henbit can be an alternate host for soybean cyst nematode (SCN), two-spotted spider mites and tomato spotted wilt.
- Failure to control henbit may provide additional resources that allow SCN to reproduce and increase its population density in a field.2
- Studies suggest henbit and other winter annual weeds are most vulnerable to SCN parasitism in the early fall and late spring. Therefore, controlling winter annual weeds at harvest time and before planting is most beneficial.2
- Herbicide-resistant henbit was reported in Kansas winter wheat in 2014.
Control Tips:
- Most fall-emerging weed seeds germinate near the top of the soil surface, so growers with fall tillage practices are less likely to see these weeds in their fields. However, this means that no-till or minimum-till fields are more at risk.
- Encourage customers to start with a burndown herbicide application in the late fall or early spring. This practice will provide a drier and warmer seedbed for earlier planting.
- Corteva Agriscience offers Elevore® herbicide for control of henbit and other challenging winter annuals without regrowth. This herbicide also is tank-mix-compatible with commonly used burndown and residual partners to control many ALS- and glyphosate-resistant species, plus marestail up to 8 inches tall. Elevore has a low use rate of 1 ounce per acre, making it an excellent fit in reduced- and no-till production systems.
Contact your local Corteva Agriscience representative to learn more about burndown herbicide application options.
1 Michigan State University. Henbit. https://www.canr.msu.edu/weeds/extension/henbit
2 Mock, V. A., et al. 2007. Winter Annual Weeds and Soybean Cyst Nematode Management. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ws/ws-36.pdf
Elevore® is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.