The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Rue is a short-lived perennial herb with a small, shrub-like growth habit.
It features aromatic, blue-green foliage with a fern-like appearance.
Seeds will germinate in one to four weeks.
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Selecting a Planting Site
Choose a sunny site with good drainage for your rue plants.
Rue flowers are good candidates for tough sites and evengrow in gravel.
If your garden has heavy or wet soil, consider container culture.
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Space plants 1 to 2 feet apart.
Do not allow seedlings to dry out.
A support structure typically wont be necessary, as rue naturally has an upright growth habit.
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Partial shade is also tolerated.
However, plants will produce fewer flowers in the shade.
Soil
Sharp drainage is important for healthy rue plants.
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Add sand, perlite, or vermiculite to the soil to help drainage.
Or use raised beds with prepared soil in gardens where heavy clay dominates.
Rue likes moderately rich soil but can tolerate poor soil.
It can grow in a slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil pH.
Water
Once established, rue is drought tolerant and a good candidate for axeriscapeor rock garden.
You won’t need to water except for periods of extensive dry weather.
Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot.
However, the plants tolerate humidity as long as they have good soil drainage and air circulation.
Fertilizer
Do not fertilize rue plants.
Excess nutrients will cause the plants to produce more foliage at the expense of the flowers.
They are both bitter herbs that bear small yellow flowers.
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Harvesting Rue
Rue is often harvested for dried flowers.
Some people make sachets out of rue to deter pests, including fleas and ants.
Wear gloves and long sleeves when working with rue to protect your skin.
Cut a mature plant at ground level with pruners.
Then, hang it in a dark, dry place until the leaves become brittle.
Keep the fully dried rue in an airtight container until using it for sachets or other purposes.
Choose a pot around 12 to 16 inches wide and deep with drainage holes.
An unglazed clay container is ideal because it will allow excess soil moisture to escape through its walls.
Pruning
Rue is a semi-woodyperennialthat flowers on new growth.
Keep the plant vigorous by cutting stems back to around 6 inches in the early spring.
Dont wait too long, or youll end up pruning off some flower buds.
You also can prune in the fall after flowering is finished.
Propagating Rue
It’s easy to make new rue plants via stem cuttings.
The soil must be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit for germination, and some light must reach the seeds.
When the seedlings develop at least two sets of true leaves, they can be transplanted into larger pots.
Harden off seedlings before planting in the garden.
Rue plants will self-seed, sometimes aggressively, in warm regions.
Potting and Repotting Rue
Use any well-drainingpotting mixfor rue in containers.
Repotting is necessary when you see roots poking out of the pot’s drainage holes.
Remember to wear protective clothing when repotting.
Aim to do this before frost hits in the fall.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Rue doesnt have any major pest or disease issues.
If you see caterpillars feeding on your rue plants, do not spray them.
They are likelyswallowtail butterflycaterpillars, which use rue as a host plant and benefit your entire garden.
The primary disease issue affecting rue is root rot from wet soils.
So ensure that your plants are never waterlogged.
Rue requires very little maintenance as long as it has a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
Rue has a moderate growth rate and will germinate in one to four weeks.
Rue is a perennial that comes back yearly but it is not long-lived.
It will self-seed to produce new plants in the garden.
Ruta Graveolens (Garden Rue, Herb of Grace, Rue).
North Carolina State Extension.
Plants Poisonous to Your Pets.
