Henna (Lawsonia Inermis)

Features and Characteristics

Lawsonia inermis, commonly called henna, is a large, evergreen shrub or small tree with a densely branched habit. It is native to dry, coastal scrublands of North Africa, the Middle East, and portions of southern Asia, and has naturalized in parts Africa and northern Australia. Mature specimens can reach up to 20′ tall with an equal spread. The leaves are elliptic to lanceolate in shape, reaching up to 2″ long and 1″ wide, and held on slender branches armed with thorns. Terminal panicles of highly fragrant flowers bloom seasonally. The flowers are typically white, but specimens with dark pink blooms are also available. This plant has a myriad of ethnobotanical uses, including medicinal and cosmetic. Extracts of the leaves have astringent, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. A dye can be made using the leaves that can be applied to the skin, hair and nails. The flowers are used to make perfume.

Genus name honors Isaac Lawson (?-174- , Scottish army doctor who helped pay for the publication of Linnaeus’s Systema Naturae (173- .

The specific epithet inermis means “having fewer spines”, possibly in reference to another species in the genus Lawsonia.

The common name henna comes from the Arabic word for this plant.