Dead Nettle, Henbit, and Ground Ivy - Three Look-Alike Weeds

There are those of us who tolerate or even encourage plant diversity in our lawns. However, other residents prefer turfgrasses exclusively. Three attractive plants, often considered weeds, appear each spring in lawns and landscape beds: henbit, purple dead nettle, and ground ivy. These are best managed in late summer or fall rather than in the spring. Correct identification is essential as management techniques differ. Managing them or not managing them is a matter of personal preference.

I look forward to purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) each April. Small pink flowers rise above the burgundy-red upper leaves. The heart-shaped, scalloped leaves change to green further down the short green stem. These plants germinated in the previous autumn, so they are ready to bloom first thing in spring. Honey bees and bumble bees visit to gather nectar.

A close cousin of purple dead nettle is henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). It shares the square stem of the mint family and its mild scent. Henbit’s round green leaves with deeply scalloped edges attach to a deep red short stem. Its pink flowers have a much longer tube than dead nettle flowers. Its flowers provide nectar to pollinators with long tongues.

Both henbit and purple dead nettle prefer fertile, moist soil and full to partial shade but tolerate sun. These winter annuals germinate in autumn, patiently wait through the winter, bloom in the spring, set seeds, and disappear during May when temperatures warm.

How can you use the life cycle of a winter annual to manage it? Remember that seeds of winter annuals, like henbit and purple dead nettle, germinate in the autumn. Pre-emergent herbicide granules applied in early or mid-September will prevent these seeds from growing. Corn gluten meal is an organic option to apply in late summer. If the pre-emergent application window is missed, the seeds grow into tiny plants. Then a different management approach is needed. Control henbit and dead nettle with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November. Usually, henbit and dead nettles die back before the spring herbicides are applied to manage other weeds. For more information on herbicides to remove dead nettle and henbit, see Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Dead Nettle and Henbit - A Common Winter Annual. 

Hand-pulling or hoeing works, but be sure to remove the whole plant, including the fibrous roots, before henbit or dead nettle sets seed. Regular mowing will remove the flowers before seeds mature.

The third look-alike plant, ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), is a challenging species. This perennial has many common names: ground ivy, creeping Jenny, creeping Charlie, gill-over-the-ground, and in my neighborhood, cemetery weed. Beware of the variegated form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries.

Ground ivy is a weed that I hear about every spring. Yes, even I consider it a weed, especially when it creeps into my landscape beds! Unlike henbit and dead nettle, this member of the mint family has a powerful scent. Its round evergreen leaves with scalloped margins are attached to the stem by a short stalk. The stems stay low to the ground as ground ivy sprawls across the yard. Wherever there is a node, the square stems root into the soil. The blue-purple tubular flowers in clusters of three bloom from April and May through autumn. Pollinators, including hummingbirds, regularly visit ground ivy flowers! This plant prefers moist, fertile, shady areas but gladly creeps into sunny and even drier spaces.

Is it a wonder that ground ivy is hard to manage? So, what’s a gardener to do? Ground ivy does not respond well to control measures in the spring. At best, spring herbicidal treatments suppress it. There are no pre-emergent herbicides that work on ground ivy. Instead, patiently wait until after the autumn’s first frost, then apply broadleaved herbicides, often in combination products. Use again a month later. Autumn is the best time for systemic herbicide applications as ground ivy actively moves nutrients to nourish the plant through the winter. For recommendations on herbicides to control ground ivy, see Controlling Ground Ivy in Home Lawns (Rutgers University, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station).

Proper lawn care, especially a higher mowing height, helps manage ground ivy in turfgrass. Only apply lawn fertilizer when indicated by a soil fertility test. Hand-pull ground ivy from landscape beds, taking care to remove as much stem and roots as possible. A well-mulched bed makes it easier to see and eliminate this plant. Do not apply borax (boron), as this chemical does not control ground ivy. Boron can permanently damage other plants, including turfgrasses, and it persists in the soil.

Always follow the product label for directions for the proper use of herbicides. Ask yourself if these plants really must be managed. Diversity, even in lawns, can be a good thing!