Ruta graveolens
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROO-tah grah-vay-OH-lens
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Common rue is an ornamental subshrub in the rue or citrus (Rutaceae) family that is native to the Balkin peninsula. It will grow 2-3 feet tall and wide with aromatic evergreen fern-like leaves and becomes woody with age. It is evergreen in warmer winter areas.
It grows well in full sun to part shade, moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It is a hardy plant that is deer resistant and tolerates drought and dry and rocky soil. Avoid wet soils and surround with mulch during the winter in northern zones. Prune back plants to old wood in early spring.
Rue is usually grown as an ornamental because of its blue-green foliage and because it is a host plant to several swallowtail butterflies. Although it is short-lived (around 5 years), it will self-seed to replace itself. The flowers are yellow in clusters held above the foliage in mid to late summer that attract various pollinators.
Use this plant in a pollinator garden, drought tolerant garden and in mass plantings for mid to late summer blooms
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Root rot may occur, particularly in poorly drained soils. Wear long sleeves and gloves when pruning or handling the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Herb & Flower Cottage Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ruta
- Species:
- graveolens
- Family:
- Rutaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The growing or the dried plant can be used to repel insects.Also used in herbal medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern Europe and the Balkans
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators. Host plant to the Black Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail and Giant Swallowtail butterflies. Provides a breeding area for tiny parasitic wasps that control whiteflies.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer and drought resistant
- Edibility:
- In some countries, the leaves are used sparingly in dishes or teas but have a bitter flavor.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Brown capsule splits in 5 parts to revel several dark seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small dull yellow flowers in terminal, erect clusters. The 5 yellow petals surround a green superior ovary
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Soft blue-green leaves are aromatic when bruised, deeply lobed and are 2-pinnately divided. They are gland-dotted and fern-like. Leaves have a bitter taste.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Soft green stems o new growth that become woody with age.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Short-lived
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Contact with the skin will cause short-term irritation and you should wear gloves when working with the plant. Ingestion of large amounts can cause stomach pain, vomiting, exhaustion, confusion, and convulsions. Potentially fatal. It is generally safe to use in small amounts and in a dried form.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Furocoumarins; rutin, a volatile oil; alkaloids; coumarin derivatives.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
