Ruta Species, Common Rue, Garden Rue, Herb of Grace, Herbygrass

Rutagraveolens

Family
Rutaceae (roo-TAY-see-ee)
Genus
Ruta (ROO-tuh)
Species
graveolens (grav-ee-OH-lens)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Evergreen
Shiny/Glossy
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color
Bright Yellow
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Herbs
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Wear gloves to protect hands when handling seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Tuscumbia, Alabama

Vincent, Alabama

Hereford, Arizona

Alameda, California

Carlsbad, California

Carmichael, California

Encinitas, California

Hawthorne, California

Merced, California

Perris, California

San Jose, California

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Denver, Colorado

Lutz, Florida

Rockledge, Florida

Seminole, Florida

Atlanta, Georgia

Guyton, Georgia

Roswell, Georgia

Kansas, Illinois

Palmyra, Illinois

Greenville, Indiana

Barbourville, Kentucky

Prospect, Kentucky

Richmond, Kentucky

Brookeville, Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland

Glen Burnie, Maryland

Silver Spring, Maryland

Ashfield, Massachusetts

Mashpee, Massachusetts

Midland, Michigan

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Saint Louis, Missouri

Lincoln, Nebraska

Dover, New Hampshire

Dunellen, New Jersey

Plainfield, New Jersey

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Manorville, New York

Dunn, North Carolina

West End, North Carolina

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hulbert, Oklahoma

, Ontario

Portland, Oregon

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Fayetteville, Pennsylvania

Lansdowne, Pennsylvania

Troy, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Carolina, Puerto Rico

Manning, South Carolina

Arlington, Texas

Belton, Texas

Brazoria, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Desoto, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Houston, Texas

Lewisville, Texas

Mesquite, Texas

Montague, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Taylor, Texas

Victoria, Texas

South Jordan, Utah

Petersburg, Virginia

Seattle, Washington

Snohomish, Washington

Stanwood, Washington

Porterfield, Wisconsin

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

15
positives
9
neutrals
2
negatives
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C
ROSLINDALE, MA | January 2016 | positive

A small sub-shrub with beautiful glaucous blue pinnate foliage. The greenish yellow flowers are pretty but the foliage is its principal o...Read More

R
| August 2013 | positive

I purchased this plant perhaps a month ago, and it's potted in terracotta on our front porch. I'm a lover of plants with history, and am ...Read More

W
Allentown, PA | May 2012 | positive

Rue is hardy for me in zone 6, PA. It self sows only moderately and has survived winters in sunny and half-shaded areas.The main stalk o...Read More

S
Wailua, HI | April 2012 | neutral

seeking information on traditional chinese uses, both garden and medicinal, and/or significance of this plant. thanks. :)

T
Dunellen, NJ | July 2011 | positive

I've grown Rue here for about three years now. As a Sicilian Strega it is an important part of my history. Rue is the scared plant to t...Read More

S
| April 2011 | negative

A few years ago I bought a plant and grew it in my garden for a year until I decided that didn't like it. I had already realised that whe...Read More

B
Galveston, TX | June 2010 | negative

Plant WARNING!!! I am sorry to say this......
This is my 3rd year of growing rue. During summer, it is always covered w/ B-fly ...Read More

W
Snohomish, WA | October 2009 | positive

This is one of my favorite plants. I knew that it might cause dermatitis in some people but I have not suffered any problems from it. I...Read More

C
Glen Burnie, MD | March 2009 | positive

I put rue in a small pot on my fence last season (hung it on
my fence so my kitty wouldn't eat any). In no time I had 5
Gia...Read More

L
L
Greenville, IN (Zone 6a) | November 2007 | positive

I love the foliage on this plant I planted five of them and lost two but plan on planting a lot more for next year. I have Giant Swallowt...Read More

F
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | May 2007 | positive

Rue, Ruta graveolens is a Naturalized plant in Texas.

W
W
Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) | March 2007 | positive

After several years of trying to grow Rue from seed,
I was determined more than ever, so I dumped an
entire package of seed...Read More

D
Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) | December 2006 | positive

Out of all the beautiful things about this plant, it's most significant functions is to provide food for Black Swallowtails and Giant Swa...Read More

B
(Zone 7a) | October 2006 | positive

Right about now, our rue (rutaceae family) hedge is heavily populated with burgeoning black swallowtail caterpillars. We love the butter...Read More

K
Markham, ON (Zone 5b) | April 2006 | neutral

My mom grows a lot of rue every year. We use it to make a traditional dessert sweet mung bean soup (we're Chinese) and it tastes great. ...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | positive

My information says that Rue is hardy in zones 4-11, and indeed, it survives here in zone 5. It even self-seeds a little. I like the lo...Read More

M
| September 2004 | positive

I was concerned about this plant after reading the comments here. I wrote to the nursery where I bought it and this is their response ....Read More

M
Richmond, KY | September 2004 | positive

I have found some crushed rue covered by a bandage on skin cysts or large blemishes tends to heal them very quickly. A skin cyst can dis...Read More

M
(Zone 11) | June 2004 | neutral

Here it is a "luck" plant. People use it to bring luck to their houses, either planting a cutting on their years, or just putting a branc...Read More

B
New Baltimore, MI | August 2003 | neutral

Loved your website. Told me what I needed to know about my rue, which I have had for 10 years, and weeded, and traded at the plant excha...Read More

M
Cincinnati, OH | July 2003 | neutral

I have very positive feelings about this plant's attractiveness and usefulness, but I also am typing this right now with several large bl...Read More

C
C
| July 2003 | neutral

one of this plants best qualities is its power to keep dogs out of the garden when used as a border plant, in certain cases it even keeps...Read More

R
R
Ashfield, MA | June 2003 | neutral

This plant looks really great in my garden. I really like the shape of the leaves and that it is evergreen like. I do not find it as in...Read More

L
Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) | September 2002 | positive

Plant self-seeds somewhat, but not enough to be considered invasive; just enough to share with friends.

D
D
(Zone 5b) | July 2002 | neutral

The phrase "You'll RUE the day..." comes from this plant, as touching it produces a dermatitis in many people. Mine produces lovely yello...Read More

B
B
Baa
| March 2002 | neutral

Evergreen shrub from Southern Europe.

Has blue-green, pinnatisect, ovate, scented leaves. Bears yellow, 4 petalled, cup sh...Read More

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