Common rue (Ruta graveolens), also called herb-of-grace or ruda, is a strong-scented, woody evergreen subshrub that attracts a wide variety of beneficial insects and pollinators with its bright yellow mid-summer flower clusters. It serves as both a nectar source for adult insects and an essential larval host plant for several swallowtail butterflies. Use this plant in a pollinator garden, drought tolerant garden and in mass plantings for mid to late summer blooms.

It features delicate, blue-green lacy foliage and tiny yellow summer flowers, growing roughly 2 to 3 feet tall. Gardeners grow it for its ornamental color and drought resistance, but it requires careful handling due to skin-irritating oils.

Plant Care & Growth

Sunlight: Prefers full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Thrives in average, well-drained, sandy, or rocky soil; it tolerates drought well.

Hardiness: Grows best in USDA zones 4 - 8. It is deer-resistant.

Maintenance: Prune back hard in early spring or mid-winter to keep it neat.