# rues (*Ruta*)

Rue is a special plant with bright green leaves and tiny yellow flowers. It has a strong smell and has been used for many years in gardens and medicine.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas
- **Also known as:** Common Rue, Herb of Grace

![rues](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ruta_graveolens_1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ruta_graveolens_1.jpg)

## Appearance

The rues has striking blue-green, feathery leaves that grow in clusters. Its small, yellow-green flowers bloom atop its stems, creating a distinct, bushy appearance different from many common garden plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Sapindales
- **Family:** Rutaceae
- **Genus:** Ruta

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans thought rue could protect them from bad magic and sickness!
- Its unique scent was once believed to improve eyesight and memory.
- Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars sometimes munch on rue leaves for food!
- The word 'rue' comes from a Greek word, meaning 'to be free'!

## Special abilities

- **Sun-Powered Defense:** Rues contains special oils that, when touched and exposed to sunlight, can irritate skin, protecting it from hungry animals.
- **Aromatic Shield:** Rues has a very strong, distinctive scent that acts as a natural deterrent, keeping many pests and animals from eating its leaves.
- **Drought Survivor:** Rues can thrive in dry, rocky soils because its tough roots help it efficiently find and store precious water in harsh conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Old World Swallowtail butterfly (*Papilio machaon*) — Its larvae feed on rue leaves.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful not to touch rue too much, as it can irritate your skin.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify rues?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is rues?

20-100 cm

### How wide does rues spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on rues?

1-2 cm

### When does rues bloom?

Summer to early fall

### Is rues edible?

No

### Is rues toxic?

Moderate

### What is rues's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Rues: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rues)