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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small dull yellow flowers in terminal, erect clusters. The 5 yellow petals surround a green superior ovary
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Brown capsule splits in 5 parts to revel several dark seeds
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Soft green stems o new growth that become woody with age.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
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.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
In some countries, the leaves are used sparingly in dishes or teas but have a bitter flavor.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The growing or the dried plant can be used to repel insects.Also used in herbal medicine.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden; Winter Garden
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.
Toxic principle
Furocoumarins; rutin, a volatile oil; alkaloids; coumarin derivatives.
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
Medium severity poison; parts: Leaves; contact dermatitis