Have You Seen a Henbit Deadnettle?

Henbit Deadnettle

— On Thursdays, I have been volunteering at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. The photo above was the last photo on my card yesterday. To see a white Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) was a first for nearly everyone in our photographers’ group. White Henbits are not common.

I have searched online and discovered that the Henbit Deadnettle, also known as Henbit, is a typical wildflower native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family and has now spread worldwide. They are considered winter annuals, germinating in the fall and flowering in the early spring before dying in the summer heat. The Henbit typically comes in shades of pink to purple. The flowers are small, measuring around ½ and ¾ of an inch (1.3 to 1.9 centimeters) in length. For comparison purposes, a US penny is about ¾ of an inch (1.9 cm) in diameter. Henbits have a tubular shape and a lower lip that often has darker spots. The photo below was also captured at the Wildflower Center just a week before the one above.


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26 Responses

  1. Such a pleasing colour!
    Thank you, Egídio

  2. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    Beautiful photograph and macro of such a small flower Egidio.

  3. Tranature - quiet moments in nature
    | Reply

    Beautiful images and flowers Egidio, we see them further South from us too 😊

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      That’s wonderful, Xenia. They are such pretty flowers. Thank you for the compliment.

  4. margaret21
    | Reply

    Ah, yes, we have them too. But not yet – still too cold.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Thank you so much, Margaret. I hope this is not the beginning of another awfully hot summer for us.

      • margaret21
        | Reply

        Well, over in Spain, my daughter and family are still waiting for winter to start …

        • Egídio Leitão
          | Reply

          I hope it won’t be a long winter when/if it comes.

          • margaret21
            | Reply

            The trouble is, it ought to be ending now, so there’s little hope. It’s been warm throughout, which might be comfortable, but not good for the natural world.

  5. Aletta - nowathome
    | Reply

    It is a lovely flower!

  6. Tra Italia e Finlandia
    | Reply

    Ci sono moltissimi fiori selvatici di cui ignoriamo l’esistenza…solo perché sono piccoli. Vero?

  7. TextileRanger
    | Reply

    Your photos show off these tiny flowers so well!

    I have henbit deadnettle where I live and I just learned its name last year. 🙂 I will keep an eye out for a white one!

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Gwen, thanks for the comment. You won’t be able to miss a white one if it’s around you. They stand out among the pink/purple henbits.

  8. bushboy
    | Reply

    An interesting plant Egidio. I guess it is a chickens favourite food 😂 Being a mint, have you ever eaten it?
    Thanks for joining in 😀

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      No, I have never eaten one. I enjoyed being a part of the challenge. Since it’s a once-a-month challenge, it is more feasible I’ll be able to join it in the future. Thanks for your feedback, Brian.

  9. Rebecca Cuningham
    | Reply

    Pretty shots. Sounds wonderful to be at the Wildflower center!

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Thanks, Rebecca. Yes, I love going to the Wildflower Center.

  10. SoyBend
    | Reply

    What a pretty flower!

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      It’s so small and beautiful. Thanks for the comment, Siobhan.

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