• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Winter Weeds a Nectar Source for Pollinators

Early spring blooms of henbit and purple deadnettle are an important nectar source for several pollinators. Consider managing these weeds with the pollinators in mind.

Henbit (Lamium aplexicaule) and purple deadnettle (Lamium pupureum) are winter annuals. They sprout a cluster of leaves in fall that survive the winter. In early spring the plants continue to grow, flower, drop seeds and die. 

Contain these weeds by keeping nearby plants and the lawn healthy.  Remove small populations by hand after the flowers fade, but before they set seeds.

It may make it easier to tolerate these unwanted plants knowing honey bees and bumble bees feed upon the henbit nectar. The purple deadnettle feeds these as well as digger bees, a group of large ground nesting bees. 

Both attract the giant bee fly, a bee mimic. The adult is a pollinator while the larvae is a parasite feeding on various insects including cutworms.

A bit more information:  Both the henbit and purple deadnettle are members of the mint family. Roll their stems between your fingers to find the distinctive square stems of mint family members.

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


Feb. 14-16, 2025
NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show
West Allis, WI

Feb. 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants

Register here

Feb. 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Create a Beautiful Shade Garden

Register here

Feb. 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
How to Select Rain Garden Plants

Register here

March 12, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Grow Pollinator-friendly Spring and Summer Flowering Bulbs

Register here

March 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Register here


March 22, 23, 29, 30, 2025
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, WI

March 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Succession Planting & Crop Rotation

Register here

March 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Rain Garden Q & A

Register here

April 2, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Container Gardens for Sun & Shade
Register here


April 10, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Reinvigorate Your Rain Garden
Register here


May 7, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Vertical Gardening
Register here


May 15, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
7 Steps to Managing Water on Your Property

Register here

June 4, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Attracting Hummingbirds

Register here

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win 3 Collections of Longfield Gardens
Dahlia Bulbs

ENTER NOW