How to Grow Henna

Scientific Name: Lawsonia Inermis

Perennial

Extremely heat and drought tolerant

Zones: 10+ Outdoors, All Indoors

Sun Requirements: Full

Pests: Aphids

Henna is a tropical shrub that can reach upwards of 25 feet in its native home of South Asia and North Africa. The earliest record of henna usage dates back to the predynastic period of Egypt, approximately 3400 BCE, where mummified bodies have been found with what appears to be henna-dyed hair and fingers. The leaves are typically dried and rehydrated with water and lemon juice to make mehndi, or henna. Natural henna smells completely different from the typical cone hennas often found in Indian stores. Many sources show these over the counter cones to be laden with harmful chemicals. Luckily, henna is an easy to grow, perennial shrub that can be grown throughout the US with a few considerations depending on your climate.

Caring for the Henna Plant

In Zones 9 and lower (regions with a frost), henna can be grown in containers as a houseplant and brought outside during the Spring and Summer. In Zones 10+ henna can be grown outside year round either in a pot or directly in the ground. It’s best to wait until the plant is at least 1 year old before planting directly in the ground. Henna planted in a ground can potentially grow to be a small tree so make sure to provide adequate space.

Henna is extremely drought tolerant. Allow the soil to completely dry out in between watering. When watering, give it a big soak until water drains from the bottom holes. Because it benefits from dry soil, do not transplant your new plant into too big of a pot. Every Spring transplant into just a slightly bigger pot (i.e. from 4” to 1 gallon. 1 gallon to 2 gallon). This is because bigger pots retain moisture for longer and will not allow your henna plant to completely dry out between waterings.

Soil should be well-draining. Potting soil with perlite is ideal. You can amend regular soil with perlite and orchid bark as well.

Henna thrives in high heat and full sun. Place your plant in a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Although it is a tropical plant, it does not like too much humidity. Never mist the leaves.

Aphids and other pests love henna. A simple soapy water solution (1 tbsp per gallon in a spray bottle) every couple days should do the trick. Make sure to spray the bottom of the leaves as well. Every once in awhile, the plant can benefit from being watered from above with a hose so the leaves can get a showering.

Fertilizing henna is not necessary but can benefit from a balanced fertilizer once in the early Spring and again mid-Summer.

Winter Months

The leaves may completely drop off during the Winter. Although the plant may appear completely dead, new branches will form from the leaf nodes once Spring comes. Reduce or completely stop watering in the Winter. In early Spring, as new growth begins, give the plant a big watering. Continue to check the plant for pests and spray as needed.