Rue
Ruta graveolens

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60-90 cm high and 60-75 cm wide. The branches are woody. The stems and leaves are waxy. The leaves are blue-green. They are finely divided and the leaflets are rounded. They have wavy edges. They have a strong aroma. The flowers are greenish-yellow. There are 4-5 petals with hairy edges. The fruit are capsules with 4 lobes and glands dotted over them.

There are 8 Ruta species. It is used in medicine. It is mentioned in the Bible.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. In Hobart Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania (country/location of origin), Algeria, Andorra, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belgium, Bulgaria (country/location of origin), Britain, Canada, Canary Is., Central America, China, Czech Republic, Cuba, East Africa, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hawaii, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pacific, Paraguay, Romania, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies, West Timor, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The leaves are bitter and pungent and used as a potherb. They are minced and used to flavour foods and pickled. It is used to flavour sausage meat and stuffings. They are brewed into tea. The seeds are used in the preparation of palm wine. They are used in spices. It is used in some drinks. It is used to flavour Italian brandy. CAUTION: It is poisonous in large doses. It can cause skin irritation in sensitive people.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, herb, spice, leaves - tea, seeds

How it is grown

Rue can be grown from seed or by cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Aruda, Chou cao, Duan aroda, Gaun inggu, Godong minggu, Herb of Grace, Ruda comun, Ruta, Sadal, Tena Adam, Thada-paha, Thaw-ma-le-ta, Vinska rutica, Weinraute

Synonyms

Ruta altera Mill.; and several others