Henna is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 13 through 13. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
13-13
pH Range
4.3-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Henna on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether henna actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score henna against your land's real conditions.
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What Henna is
Henna grows as a perennial. It blooms in spring.
How to grow Henna
Henna grows in USDA zones 13 through 13. Henna does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.3 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 100 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
13-13
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.3 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
55.4°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
100+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant henna in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Henna prefers pH 4.3 to 8 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Keep it in good form
Prune henna to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — henna is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)
Henna offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Henna thrives
Henna is hardy across USDA zones 13 through 13. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zone 13
Where Henna grows. USDA's published 2023 PHZM polygons cover the continental US (zones 3a-12a); zones outside that range aren't in the federal map dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Henna can grow in these states:
See if Henna will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether henna actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Henna in my zone?
Henna grows in USDA hardiness zones 13 through 13 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Henna?
Most growers plant henna after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 100-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Henna need?
Henna needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Henna need?
Henna prefers soil pH 4.3 to 8, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Henna attract pollinators?
Yes — henna's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Is Henna safe for pets?
Henna is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)