Henbit

Lamium amplexicaule

Lamiaceae (Mint)

That purple haze over fields in early spring — an edible mint-family weed, mild and good for pollinators.

EdibleWild / foragedForagedCool-seasonSafe first forage

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Full sun to part shade

Water

Moderate

Soil

Any

pH

Adaptable

Hardiness

Cool-season annual

Height

4–12 in

Days to harvest

Late winter–spring

What it is

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. That purple haze over fields in early spring — an edible mint-family weed, mild and good for pollinators.

How to grow it

It wants full sun to part shade, water it moderate, and give it any soil. Target a soil pH around Adaptable. Expect roughly Late winter–spring. Cool-season annual.

How it's used

Henbit is used: raw or cooked young.

🔎 How to identify it

Scalloped leaves clasping the stem
Square stems
Small purple-pink tubular flowers

Edibility

PartsLeaves, stems, flowers

UsesRaw or cooked young

CautionMild; confirm square stem (mint family).

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.