Purple Flowered Weeds In Lawns: Identification, Control, and Friendly Advice from a Gardener
Those little pops of purple scattered across a spring lawn can be charming — until you remember you planted grass, not a pollinator meadow. If you’re asking “what are these purple flowered weeds in my lawn?” and “how do I get rid of them?” you’re in the right place. I’ve battled violets, creeping Charlie, henbit, and purple deadnettle in my own yard and I’ll share what works (and what I personally avoid).
Common purple flowered weeds you’ll see in lawns
Different plants produce similar purple blooms but need different tactics. Here are the most frequent offenders:
- Wild violets (Viola spp.) — heart-shaped leaves, low-growing, five-petaled purple flowers.
- Creeping Charlie / ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) — scalloped round leaves, creeping stems, tubular purple flowers.
- Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) — square stems, opposite leaves, tubular purple flowers clustered at the top.
- Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) — fuzzy, triangular upper leaves that are often reddish-purple, dense flower spikes.
- Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) — low mats with spikes of purple flowers, common in thin turf.
- Speedwells (Veronica spp.) — small, low plants with many tiny blue-purple flowers.
How to identify your purple flowered weeds
Look at leaf shape, stem type, growth habit, and bloom timing. Wild violets have distinctive heart-shaped leaves and solitary, showy flowers. Creeping Charlie creeps on stolons and roots at nodes. Henbit and purple deadnettle are in the mint family — they have square stems and opposite leaves.
“Once I learned the leaf shapes, I could confidently choose the right control method. Identification saves time and chemicals.” — from my experience
Why purple weeds appear in lawns
Understanding why they show up helps you prevent them. Common reasons include:
- Thin turf or bare patches allow weeds to establish.
- Compacted or poorly drained soil favors ground ivy and violets.
- Low mowing heights stress grass and give low-growing weeds an advantage.
- Shade encourages violets and other shade-tolerant weeds.
- Disturbed soil or seed brought in on shoes, pets, or compost.
Non-chemical control methods that really work
I always try cultural and mechanical methods first. They’re kinder to the ecosystem and often effective when done consistently.
- Hand-pulling: Pull when soil is moist. For violets, dig out the entire root mass. For ground ivy, drag up the stolons and roots.
- Regular mowing: Keep grass healthy by mowing at the recommended height for your species. Taller grass shades the soil and crowds out many weeds.
- Overseeding and thickening turf: Repair thin patches in fall or early spring to deny weeds space to establish.
- Aeration and top-dressing: Relieve compaction and improve root growth so grass can outcompete weeds.
- Improve drainage and reduce shade: Trim trees to increase light and fix low spots that collect water.
- Smothering: For small patches, cover with cardboard and mulch to starve out creepers over several weeks.
Chemical control: when and how to use herbicides
If the infestation is widespread or stubborn, targeted herbicide use can help. Be thoughtful and follow label directions.
- Selective broadleaf herbicides containing 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba control many purple-flowered broadleaf weeds without harming most grasses. Apply in the fall for best results with violets, or in spring on actively growing weeds like henbit.
- Non-selective herbicides (glyphosate) kill everything they contact and are best for spot-treating patches before reseeding.
- Persistent weeds like violets may need repeated treatments and improved turf care alongside herbicide use.
- Always avoid mowing immediately before or after application unless the label permits — mowing can reduce herbicide uptake.
Timing: when to act for best results
Timing makes a big difference:
- Fall is often the best time to control perennial broadleaf weeds — plants move sugars to roots and herbicides are carried with that flow.
- Early spring is ideal for henbit and deadnettle when plants are small and actively growing.
- For ground ivy, multiple treatments from early spring through fall, combined with cultural fixes, work best.
When to tolerate purple flowers
There are situations where I leave a patch alone. Early-spring bloomers like henbit and violets provide nectar to bees when few other flowers are available. If the area isn’t large or harming turf quality, consider leaving a small refuge for pollinators.
“A little purple in spring feeds the bees. I remove it from my high-use lawn areas but keep a tiny corner for pollinators.”
My practical maintenance checklist
I follow a simple routine that has dramatically reduced purple-flowered weeds in my yard:
- Raise mower height to recommended level for my grass.
- Overseed bare patches every fall and spring where needed.
- Aerate compacted areas each year and add organic matter if soil is poor.
- Hand-pull small outbreaks after rain when roots come out easily.
- Spot-treat persistent patches with a selective herbicide in fall or spring, always following label directions.
Final thoughts
Purple-flowered weeds in lawns are common and manageable. Identification is the first step — wild violets, ground ivy, henbit, and purple deadnettle each have habits you can exploit. Combine good lawn care with targeted hand-pulling or spot herbicide use, and you’ll see steady improvement. And remember, a little purple now and then isn’t a disaster; it can even help pollinators while you work on long-term fixes.
If you want, tell me what the leaves look like or upload a photo and I’ll help identify the exact plant and suggest a targeted plan for your lawn.
