02/15/2026
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THE PURPLE CARPET IS A WINTER CROP.
You look at your dormant February lawn and see patches of green sprawl topped with tiny purple trumpets.
Your instinct is to see an infestation.
You are looking at a volunteer cover crop.
That "w**d" is doing a job your sleeping Bermuda or Fescue cannot: it is holding the earth in place against the winter rains.
While the grass is clocked out, Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is clocking in.
The Myth of the "Useless" W**d
We often classify any uninvited plant as a "parasite" on our perfect lawns.
The Ecological Reality: Henbit is a Winter Annual. Its life cycle is perfectly timed to fill the ecological vacuum left by warm-season grasses.
It germinated last autumn, spent the winter developing a root system, and is now—right now in February—hitting its peak growth phase.
It isn't killing your grass; it is occupying the empty space between the grass blades. When the summer heat arrives, Henbit will naturally senesce (die back), composting itself just as your permanent lawn wakes up to take over.
The Scientific Reality: The Erosion Net
Why is this plant sprawling across your yard right now?
The Morphology: Cornell University's College of Agriculture (CALS) notes that Henbit stems often root at the lower nodes. This means a single plant creates a fibrous mat across the soil surface.
The Soil Anchor: In February, heavy rains and melting snow pose a severe erosion risk to bare soil. Henbit acts as a living net, reducing sediment runoff and preventing the "crusting" of topsoil that blocks water infiltration.
The Hummingbird Fuel (Community Insight 1): As a birder recently noted in our forum: "I saw a hummingbird today, but my feeders are empty! It was visiting the tiny purple flowers in the lawn."
This is critical phenology. In the southern US, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds begin migration as early as late February. Henbit is often the only nectar source available this early. Its tubular flowers are perfectly shaped for long tongues, providing high-sugar nectar when the rest of the landscape is gray.
What is Happening Right Now (February)
Right now, across Zones 6–9, Henbit is breaking dormancy and blooming.
The Early Bloom: While most native wildflowers are weeks away from emerging, Henbit is fully active.
The Pollinator Gap (Community Insight 2): Another observer commented: "It's not just hummingbirds; the honeybees are all over it on warm afternoons."
On those rare February days when the temperature hits 55°F (13°C), honeybees and early solitary bees emerge to forage. If your lawn is sterile and w**d-free, they starve. Henbit provides the bridge calories that keep these populations alive until the fruit trees bloom.
Why This Matters Ecologically
We spend millions of dollars planting "cover crops" like clover or rye in our gardens. Henbit offers similar services for free: erosion control, early nectar, and biomass production.
Yet, we spend millions more on herbicides to kill it, only to leave the soil bare and vulnerable to the spring storms.
Practical Action: The "Mow High" Compromise
You don't have to let your yard become a jungle, but you can manage it smarter.
Delay the Spray: Skip the pre-emergent herbicide this month. The Henbit is already established; spraying now just adds chemical load to the runoff without solving the "problem."
Mow, Don't Pull: If you hate the look, simply mow it on a high setting. This keeps the yard looking tidy while leaving the root systems intact to hold the soil.
Wait for the Heat: Remember, this is a cool-season plant. It will die on its own when temperatures rise in May. Nature has a built-in removal schedule.
The Verdict
If it’s green in February, it’s working.
Before the grass wakes, the winter annuals clock in.
Let the purple carpet do its job.
Scientific References & Evidence
Life Cycle: Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). "Henbit." (Details the winter annual life cycle and nodal rooting habit).
Pollinator Value: Mader, E., et al. (The Xerces Society). (Acknowledges the role of non-native winter annuals in providing bridge nectar for early-season bees).
Erosion Control: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). (General principles of winter cover crops preventing soil loss during dormant seasons).
