Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)

About Purple Deadnettle:

Purple Deadnettle is a common annual weed that is very aggressive and spreads rapidly. It is a winter annual plant and is commonly mistaken for its cousin henbit. It can be found across the Canada and the USA.

Purple Deadnettle Scouting and Prevention:

Purple Deadnettle is very easily scouted due to its square stem that carries an umbrella of small, light purple flowers and has pointed 1inch long leaves that are red to purple at the top of the plant. This plant germinates in the fall or spring and thrives in thin grass.

Prevention

It is crucial that you grow a healthy, thick lawn and apply proper amounts of fertilizer, which Purple Deadnettle cannot compete with. It is also important to know that it enjoys dormant warm season grass and cool fall season turf. The last prevention measure that can be taken is in late fall or early winter, apply pre-emergent herbicide before the weed germinates.

Purple Deadnettle Control:

If Purple Deadnettle has already entered unwanted areas so that prevention methods cannot be done, herbicide will do the trick. Post-emergent herbicide that has metsulfuron or trifloxysulfuron-sodium in it will kill the Purple Deadnettle and won’t do too much damage to the surrounding the area.

Latin / Alternative Purple Deadnettle names:

• - Lamium purpureum

Additional Purple Deadnettle Resources