Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule): Identification & Selective Herbicide Matrix
Quick Agronomic Summary
SpeedZone (2,4-D + Carfentrazone) or Hi-Yield Atrazine kills Henbit in spring, while Prodiamine prevents it in fall.
- Diagnostic Marker 1: Square, four-sided green or purplish stems with fine hairs
- Diagnostic Marker 2: Upper leaves clasp directly around the stem without petioles (sessile)
- Diagnostic Marker 3: Tubular, reddish-purple to pink flowers blooming in early spring whorls
What herbicide kills Henbit in lawns?
SpeedZone (2,4-D + Carfentrazone) or Hi-Yield Atrazine kills Henbit in spring, while Prodiamine prevents it in fall.
Post-emergent sprays work best in late winter to early spring when plants are small and blooming. In southern warm-season turf, Celsius WG or Atrazine is completely safe.
When should you spray Henbit?
Apply pre-emergents in September when soil temps drop below 70°F, or post-emergents in February–March before seeds set.
Once daytime temperatures hit 80°F in late spring, Henbit naturally dies off, but leaves behind viable seeds for the next fall.
EPA-Registered Herbicides Labeled for Henbit
The table below compares all selective herbicides in our database that control Henbit, including active ingredient groups, application temperature limits (°F), and surfactant requirements.
| Brand Name & EPA Reg. | Active Ingredient & WSSA Group | Temp Window (°F) | Surfactant & Mixing Protocol | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenacity EPA Reg. 100-1267 |
Mesotrione 40% Group 27 (HPPD Inhibitor) |
55°F – 85°F Rainfast: 6h |
Always apply with Non-Ionic Surfactant (NIS) at 1 tsp (5 mL) per gallon of water for post-emergent applications. Causes temporary white bleaching on susceptible weeds and turf tips. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| SpeedZone Lawn Weed Killer EPA Reg. 2217-833 |
2,4-D 28.57%, Mecoprop-p 5.88%, Dicamba 1.71%, Carfentrazone-ethyl 0.62% Group 4 + Group 14 (Synthetic Auxins + PPO Inhibitor) |
50°F – 85°F Rainfast: 3h |
Do NOT add surfactant. Adding NIS or MSO increases ester volatility and causes severe contact burn on desirable cool-season turf. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| TZone SE EPA Reg. 2217-920 |
Triclopyr 7.72%, 2,4-D 29.36%, Dicamba 2.22%, Sulfentrazone 0.66% Group 4 + Group 14 (Pyridine Auxin + Phenoxy + PPO Inhibitor) |
50°F – 80°F Rainfast: 3h |
Do NOT mix with surfactant when temperatures exceed 75°F. In cool spring or fall conditions (55°F–70°F), 0.5 tsp NIS per gallon improves waxy leaf penetration on Wild Violet. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Celsius WG EPA Reg. 432-1507 |
Thiencarbazone-methyl 8.7%, Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium 1.9%, Dicamba 57.4% Group 2 + Group 4 (ALS Inhibitors + Benzoic Acid Auxin) |
65°F – 95°F Rainfast: 4h |
Apply with Non-Ionic Surfactant (NIS) at 1 tsp per gallon of water. Specifically engineered not to stunt warm-season turf during summer heat up to 95°F. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Image Kills Nutsedge EPA Reg. 228-719 |
Imazaquin 3.3% Group 2 (ALS Inhibitor / Imidazolinone) |
65°F – 90°F Rainfast: 6h |
Ready-to-mix liquid formulation contains surfactant; additional NIS is not required for standard broadcast or spot treatments. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Hi-Yield Atrazine Weed Killer EPA Reg. 34911-15-7401 |
Atrazine 40.8% Group 5 (Photosystem II Inhibitor / Triazine) |
50°F – 85°F Rainfast: 6h |
Do NOT add surfactant when spraying actively growing St. Augustine or Centipede above 80°F to avoid foliar yellowing. Irrigate lightly within 48 hours for root uptake. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Barricade 4FL (Prodiamine 65 WDG) EPA Reg. 100-1139 |
Prodiamine 40.7% (or 65% WDG) Group 3 (Microtubule Assembly Inhibitor / Dinitroaniline) |
45°F – 90°F Rainfast: 0h |
Pre-emergent soil barrier: do NOT use foliar surfactant. Must be watered in with 0.5 inches of irrigation or rainfall within 14 days of application to activate. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
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Turfgrass Compatibility Matrix for Henbit Herbicides
Always verify that your chosen herbicide is safe for your specific lawn grass before broadcast spraying:
| Herbicide | KBG | Tall Fescue | Ryegrass | Bermuda | St. Aug | Zoysia | Centipede | Bahia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenacity | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID ACTIVELY GROWING | SOD PRODUCTION ONLY | DAMAGE RISK | SAFE | AVOID |
| SpeedZone Lawn Weed Killer | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID | SAFE | AVOID | SAFE |
| TZone SE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | DAMAGE RISK | AVOID | SAFE | AVOID | AVOID |
| Celsius WG | AVOID | AVOID | AVOID | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID |
| Image Kills Nutsedge | AVOID | AVOID | AVOID | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID |
| Hi-Yield Atrazine Weed Killer | AVOID | AVOID | AVOID | DORMANT ONLY | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID |
| Barricade 4FL (Prodiamine 65 WDG) | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE |
How to Distinguish Henbit from Lookalike Weeds
| Lookalike Species | Key Botanical & Diagnostic Difference |
|---|---|
| Purple Deadnettle | Purple Deadnettle has petioled upper leaves that are distinctly reddish-purple and overlap downward like roof shingles, whereas Henbit leaves clasp the stem directly. |