Here ’s how to grow a rue plant for its aromatic down - gullible leaves and delicate texture .
At first glance , you might opine the rue industrial plant is an ordinary sorry - green shaggy herbaceous plant with flower waving above the foliage , but you ’ll soon discover it has distinguishing characteristics worth note .
When the rue plant ’s tough , heavy leaves are lightly disturbed , it open off a fruity scent . However , when the plant is trounce , it let loose a powerful musk odour . So , what is there to bonk about rue ? amazingly , the regret plant is a natural pick to add to abutterfly gardenbecause , in addition to being beautiful , it is a host plant for the black swallow-tailed coat , giant swallow-tailed coat , and other butterfly .
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Native to Southern Europe and the Balkan Peninsula , sorrow plants have been cultivated since at least the 16th C . They are among the honest-to-goodness known plants cultivated for medicinal and culinary economic consumption , but today , they are grown strictly as ornamental plants because of their known perniciousness to humans . Ruta graveolens plants are , however , still beloved for their bluish leave and allowance to dry soil conditions .
Rue is aperennial herbaceous plant thatwas once used medicinally . However , today , it is toxic to people and animalswhen consume in large quantities . Always wear glove when handling sorrow because the oils on the leaf can have skin botheration similar to apoison ivyreaction .
Dean Schoeppner
Credit:Denny Schrock
Where to Plant Rue Plant
Rue ’s delicately cut blue - gullible leafage make it an attractive clumping plant forrock gardenswith full or partial sunshine experimental condition . Rue often develop unfounded in vineyards and gravel pits on rough , stony dry land . Rue also make a welcome improver to pollinator gardens , butterfly stroke beds , and cervid - tolerant borders . However , while rue is suddenly - lived , it self - seeds . Remove its flower head before they set seed to avoid unwanted plants .
In comestible gardens , rue ’s strong fragrance can deter pests from some industrial plant ( likeraspberries , alpine strawberries , andfigs ) , butavoid implant ruenear tomatoes , basil , cabbage , cucumbers , or salvia . When planted near these , the herbaceous perennial can inhibit growth and alter the flavor of some fruits , vegetable , and herbaceous plant .
How and When to Plant Rue Plant
industrial plant rue seed outdoors in the spring so your plants have the entire growing season to build up inviolable source . Sow the seeds on top of the soil and sprinkle them thinly with soil , or bid them down gently with your finger . They ask lightness to germinate . The germination process for rue plants can take up to four weeks , so it ’s significant to be patient . Once the seedlings emerge , flimsy or transplant them to allow 1 base of space between flora .
Rue Plant Care Tips
Rue industrial plant is so easy to raise that it can easy become a nuisance in the garden with its power to self - ejaculate .
Light
Ruta graveolens originate good infull sunand should receive at least six hours of direct sunshine daily . The plant tolerate part shade , but it will produce fewer flowers in the tint .
Soil and Water
regret turn best in moderately fertile , well - debilitate dirt but tolerates ironic and jolting territory . Rue also tolerates drought , so you only need to irrigate the plant when dry conditions lingers like otherdrought - tolerant perennials ,
Temperature and Humidity
The rue plant life is passing drought - large-minded , especially when planted in a sheltered area with loose , lime - rich soil . It prefers temperatures between 65 ° F and 75 ° F and is tolerant of humidness as long as thesoil has good drainage .
Fertilizer
If planted in rich soil , rue plant does not postulate fertilizer . If your grunge is poor , add acomplete , balanced , slow - release fertilizeronce each spring , following the product recording label education .
Pruning
In former fountain , prune stem backto 6 to 8 inches to encourage bushy increase and to keep the rue plant from arrive leggy .
Pests and Problems
Rue is rarely affected by insects or diseases . It is a dauntless flora that is deer - insubordinate andattracts pollinators . Root rot may occur if ruefulness is overwatered or planted in poorly drain soil .
How to Propagate Rue Plant
The rue plant is unremarkably propagated by seed and germinates after a stale period . you may alsotake stem cuttingsfrom established plants , root them in a louche place or container , and then transplant them .
Types of Rue Plant
Denny Schrock
‘Jackman’s Blue’ Rue
Ruta graveolens‘Jackman ’s Blue ’ is note for itsvivid blue-blooded leafage . Like common rue plants , it bears yellow flowers throughout the summer . It turn 2–3 foot tall and wide in Zones 4–10 .
Fringed Rue
Ruta chalepensis , ordinarily experience as laciniate rue or Egyptian regret , is name for its fringed yellow flowers . They appear in saltation amid bluish - green foliage that closely resemble that of coarse rue . This herb of grace works is a favored host plant life ofswallowtail butterflylarvae . It get 2 to 3 feet grandiloquent and 2 foot wide in Zones 8 - 10 .
Companion Plants for Rue Plant
Rue plant does n’t seamlessly coexist in all gardens because the phytotoxins unfreeze by the rue plant foliage inhibit maturation for some plants and may vary their flavour . For this ground , do not spring up rue around basil , sage , wampum , cuke , and mint . However , fellow traveller plant rue with the follow plant can be beneficial .
Onions
Growingonions(a basic ingredient forflavoring many recipes ) with rue can prevent onion fly larval damage . The herb of grace plant ’s scent deters the onion fly from lay nut near the vegetable . Like rue plant , onion do best in loose , well - drained territory . To inseminate onion seed out of doors , plant them 3/4 inch deep in free , dampish soil and thin them to 3 to 4 inches apart after seedlings come out . Plant onion bulbs or sets in the garden two to three weeks before the average last frost date .
Roses
establish rue plant life next toroses , one of the most popular flowers in the earth , helps deter aphid from your rose garden . blush wine should be plant after the last Robert Lee Frost in the give or in fall ( at least six weeks before youraverage first frost ) . Dig a hole big and wide enough to fit the entire rootage system — roses do n’t like to be herd . Also , plant life rise bushes at least 3 foundation aside to admit for development .
Raspberries
originate rue plants next toraspberry plantswill help keep damaging insects , such as aphids and beetle , away from your raspberry bush . Plantraspberry canes20 inch apart and in rows 5 feet apart . snort plants arehardy in USDA Zones 3 - 9 , so once they ’re established , you do n’t have to worry about replant them each class .
Frequently Asked Questions
Rue has a long history of being used to repel insect . Its solid odor often deters pests . A late study reveal that the essential oil of rue showed insecticidal activeness against mosquito larvae .
While rue plants readily self - seed , they are not considered invasive . However , they have escaped refinement and are considered a noxious weed in some regions . To ascertain the bedspread of your sorrow plants , slay the cum heads before they disperse their seeds .
If you ’re front to lend color to your landscape , rue ’s blue - light-green foliage make an attractive gain . It is also extremely leisurely to produce — even in poor grease . What ’s more , the rue plant ’s peak and seed heads can be well dried to append a light airy impression todried floral arranging .
Credit:Denny Schrock
Ruta graveolens . NC State Extension
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Richard Baer
Credit: Scott Little
