Henna (Lawsonia inermis)

Henna is a well-known dye plant used in hair coloring and non-permanent tattoos. This North African plant, also found in southern Asia and Northern Australia, usually grows in to a small tree but it can be kept small and shrub-like with pruning. Small fragrant white flowers appear from spring to fall and it prefers to be grown in full sun and warm temperatures. It kept too cool, especially during the winter months, it will become deciduous and drop its leaves, but with increased light and warmth new leaves will form and it begins its growth cycle all over again. Henna has been used for more than 5,000 years for hair coloring. To prepare the dye, dry the henna leaves, grind into a powder then mix with an acidic liquid like lemon juice. Henna hair coloring ranges from orange to reddish-brown.