Plant · P-953

Henna

Lawsonia inermis

Henna is an evergreen shrub grown worldwide for the reddish-orange dye lawsone found in its leaves - the source of traditional henna body art hair dye and nail colouring. It needs full sun and a hot frost-free climate; without consistent heat the leaves fail to produce useful colour. Left unpruned it can grow into a small multi-stemmed tree but is most often kept as a clipped hedge. It tolerates poor stony soil and drought once established and needs little care beyond warmth and sun.