Tropical and subtropical shrub of North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, with small fragrant white flowers and oval leaves. The leaves are the principal source of orange-red body and hair dye.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9–12 | −6.7 °C to 15.6 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H1c | 5 °C to 10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 4–7 | 0 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Orange-red dye (lawsone) extracted from the dried, powdered leaves — applied as a paste to skin, nails, hair, and textiles, staining keratin and silk fibres
- The classic mehndi body decoration of South Asian, North African, and Middle Eastern traditions
- WARNING: Black henna products contain added paraphenylenediamine (PPD) — a potent skin sensitiser that causes serious allergic reactions; real henna is orange-red, not black, and is the only safe form for skin application
- Frost-tender — strictly warm-climate cultivation
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Henna against your zones