Lamium Species, Deadnettle, Giraffe Head, Greater Henbit

On Jul 15, 2011, Mdvdsn from Clarksville, AR wrote:

This plant provides an early season nectar and pollen source for honeybees. Although in this early season, most pollen and nectar goes to feed new bees, if sufficient quantities of the plant exist it makes a very nice honey with just a hint of minty flavor.

On Apr 13, 2011, Marianne13 from Monroe City, MO wrote:

Actually, henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a different plant from dead nettle (Lamium purpureum). We've got a beautiful carpet of henbit around our front gate, that's being actively used by the honeybees for nectar. I love it's purple color in the spring and don't mind sharing my lawn with it. I've heard it called "giraffe head", because some people think the flower looks like a little giraffe head. I think it looks more like a teeny, tiny fuzzy-headed muppet.

On Jun 28, 2010, greenthumb99 from Lucketts, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:

Where I live this plant is not a problem, but it grows as a weed in my in-laws lawn. When we visit them in the early spring I dig some up to bring home and set a pot on the rail of our deck where I can easily see the lovely little blooms. Too bad it is such a problem in warmer areas.

On Mar 8, 2008, dgapwalls from Dahlonega, GA wrote:

We purchased this house about one year ago, and this STUFF was surrounding a l.p. Gas tank, which we removed. After mowing, thereby spreading the stuff, it has continued to grow around the base of the pool fence, out into the yard, and every concievable place where it isn't wanted. How can it be contained, other than spending my entire summer pulling the stuff? Are there any herbicides that will kill the invasive beast and leave the bermuda grass?

On Oct 24, 2007, creekwalker from Benton County, MO (Zone 5a) wrote:

Actually, Henbit is the Lamium amplexicaule . It is the one shown in the pictures that has been submitted.

Dead Nettle is Lamium Purpurium which looks somewhat different but has some of the same looking flowers.

I enjoy the bit of color it adds.

On Mar 16, 2007, WUVIE from Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

Easy to pull, so not high on my list of hated weeds.

It is attractive, but doesn't stay put and always
seems to find it's way next to my poppies, which
do not like to be disturbed. If Lamium a. and p. would
behave, they would be welcome to stay, but they
pop up in areas where I like a clean look.

So, sorry, Lams, out you go.

Best to pull when they are young and tender, else
ye find yourself using a trowel to dig them out.

KM

On Feb 4, 2006, Flowerkid from Tyler, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

L. amplexicaule is a weed, but it's not particularly difficult to pull, like Dandelion, for instance. I agree with tiG that it's best to pull these up before they flower. I read that, on average, each plant will make 1000 seeds. Still, weed status notwithstanding, it's nice to see some green in the winter before the lawn "wakes up," and it provides nectar for bees when few other plants can.

On Jun 27, 2004, thunderheart wrote:

I just purchased this house and found this nestled in with some black eyed -susans in the shade. I just now was at a nursery and found out what it was. I transplanted it to the front of the house around the front border of our flower bed and use as a low creeping border. Here it gets full sun. I must say though in the winter it did not lose any flowers in fact it looked as though it just laid dormant but with all its greenery and flowers.I live in the N.E. part of Oh near Youngstown where it gets below -10 or even lower at times.
Thanks for letting me share this with you.

On May 20, 2004, nancymonio from Lakeville, MN wrote:

I really like this plant. I like the White Nancy kind also. The only thing about it in Minnesota is if we have don't near normal snow fall sometimes that plants don't come back. I have experience this both at my parents and my house. Try to get these plants from a friend or neighbor so that you don't have to pay for them. Last year I bought several of them and they didn't come back but the ones that I got from my sister-in-law did come back.

On May 20, 2004, vagardener from Springfield, VA wrote:

I have an impossible slope behind my garage and decided to create a tiered rock garden. The soil is heavy Virginia clay. I amended the soil, a bit, and planted the deadnettle in the front tier. It is looks lovely in it's place. I wanted to use it's trailing tendencies to cascade over the rocks.

On May 25, 2003, tiG from Newnan, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Terribly invasive. They do pull easy but get them before they flower.

On Sep 1, 2002, talinum from Kearney, NE (Zone 5a) wrote:

This is a common urban weed in the midwest. It occurs in lawns, gardens, roadsides and cultivated fields. The seeds are eaten by some birds.