Lamium purpureum
Henbit
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Lamium purpureum (Henbit) is a non-native California herb in the Lamiaceae family.
Henbit is a naturalized perennial found in the northern and central California coast bioregions in disturbed sites and meadows at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces pink-purple flowers 8 to 16 millimeters long with a corolla tube partially concealed by bracts. Growing with stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall, it spreads in low, branching clusters. Its leaves are ovate-round, 1 to 3 centimeters long, with a heart-shaped or truncate base, scalloped edges, and a blunt tip. In disturbed areas, this introduced plant quickly establishes itself in open, sunny locations.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differentiators: petiolate leaves and smaller concealed corolla vs. clasping leaves and larger exserted corolla in L. amplexicaule
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed sites, meadows
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: Butte, Napa, El Dorado, Placer, San Diego, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Merced, Humboldt, Tehama, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Trinity, Del Norte, San Mateo, Alameda, Shasta, Santa Cruz
Outside California: widespread North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Lamium purpureum blooms Feb-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Stachys: Hedge-nettle is perennial returning yearly; Lamium is annual, dying completely each season.; vs Glechoma: Ground ivy has creeping stems and blue flowers; Lamium grows upright with pink-purple flowers.; vs Geranium: Geranium has five separate petals in a star; Lamium has a two-lipped tubular mint flower.; vs Urtica: Nettle has stinging hairs and tiny green flowers; Lamium is non-stinging with showy pink flowers.; vs Marrubium: Horehound has white flowers and extremely fuzzy leaves; Lamium has pink flowers and less hairy foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lamium purpureum native to California?
No. Lamium purpureum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lamium purpureum bloom?
Lamium purpureum blooms Feb-Jul.
Where in California does Lamium purpureum grow?
Lamium purpureum occurs in Butte, Napa, El Dorado, Placer, San Diego, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Merced and other counties, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Lamium purpureum belong to?
Lamium purpureum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Lamium.
What habitat does Lamium purpureum grow in?
Lamium purpureum grows in Uncommon. Disturbed sites, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.