Lawsonia INERMIS

Lawsonia INERMIS - Henna, Lawsonia inermis, Mignonette tree, Egyptian privet.

Lawsonia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the loosestrife family (Lythraceae), including a single species - Lawsonia inermis: a woody plant growing in hot, dry climate zones, from whose dried leaves henna is produced.

In the wild, lawsonia is widely distributed in North and Central Africa, on the Comoros and Seychelles, in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as in many other countries (including as a naturalized plant). Lawsonia is cultivated in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, and Niger, as well as in Iran (where the best varieties are believed to be grown) and Morocco.

Lawsonia inermis is a perennial evergreen shrub up to 6 m (20 ft) tall, growing in hot, dry climate zones. Leaves are dark green (on bushes older than 2 years, they have a reddish tint along the central vein), simple, entire, paired, 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) long, 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) wide. Until two years of age, the plant has no spines.

Flowering racemes of white, yellow, pink, or red highly fragrant flowers cover the plant from late spring to mid-summer. Each flower has 4 petals and 4 sepals, and after flowering, a fruit about 7 mm (0.28 in) in diameter forms, filled with polygonal seeds.

Henna propagates by seeds and cuttings. The seeds show good germination rates, beginning to sprout after just a week, but the germination period is very prolonged and uneven. To make the germination process more uniform, it is recommended to soak them before planting for 5-7 days, changing the water daily, or moisten them, place them in a damp paper towel, and keep them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days before planting. These measures help achieve greater seedling uniformity within a week. One can also perform no preparation; the first seedlings will still appear after a week, while the remaining seeds will germinate over the course of a month. The seeds are scattered over the surface of moist (not wet) soil, lightly pressed in, may be covered with 1-2 mm (0.04-0.08 in) of soil, and covered with glass or film. The soil temperature should be slightly above room temperature. In the first days of growth, young seedlings are better sprayed rather than watered.

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In indoor culture, this plant is very easy to maintain. The main requirements are more light, warmth, and less moisture. Then you will be able to grow at home a wonderful plant whose fragrance people enjoyed long before our era.

The development cycle of the plant is linked with periods of rain and drought. When cultivating lawsonia with regular watering and feeding, it can bloom year-round, and spines on a well-tended plant may not form.

Lawsonia grows well on acidic soils with above-average acidity. It can easily endure drought, but does not tolerate flooding. Therefore, mature plants should be watered only after the soil has dried out completely.

During a dry period, the plant can drop all its leaves; it can also lose leaves when diseases or pests appear. But this plant is very tenacious. Even if it has dropped all its leaves, this does not mean the plant has perished. It should be pruned, placed in the sunniest location, watered with a weak fertilizer solution - and it will quickly begin to grow new branches. In winter, the temperature should not drop below 11 °C (52 °F).