Contents
What is a common rue plant?
Characteristics of common rue (Ruta graveolens)
Common English name: Rue, common rue, herb-of-grace
Common rue leaves
Scientific name: Ruta graveolens L. Ruta comes from Latin “Rudis” (=coarse) Graveolens comes from Latin (“Gravis+olere” =Strong smell)
*See: Common rue in other languages
Family: Rutaceae
Description of rue
Common rue flower detail
Evergreen shrub plant up to 150 cm tall.
Stems erect, branched.
Yellowish-green, fleshy leaves very divided and equipped with glands that give it its distinctive odor not overly friendly.
Flowers up to 2 cm with slightly serrated petals. Fruit in capsule.
It blooms from May to September, being the summer the time when it is in full bloom.
Habitat: In Mediterranean drylands, in slopes and walls. Sometimes cultivated as a garden plant, it can be found near houses,
Applications of common rue
Used extensively in the kitchen as a spice, it was often planted in gardens or fields, so it may appear naturalized in some fields or abandoned lands.
More information on common rue
